There is a paucity of information about restrictive eating disorders (EDs) in children and youth. This is despite the fact that eating disorders are most likely to start between 10 and 20 years of age.

A Canadian study of 2,453 paediatricians found that the incidence of early-onset restrictive eating disorders* in children aged 5 to 12 years seen by pediatricians was 2.6 cases per 100 000 person years. Girls were 6 times more likely to have an eating disorder than were boys.

The lowest incidence was among boys aged 5 to 9 years at 0.4 cases per 100 000 person-years. The incidence in girls aged 5 to 9 years was 1.3 cases per 100 000 person-years. The highest incidence was among girls aged 10 to 12 years, at 9.4 cases per 100 000 person- years. The incidence in boys aged 10 to 12 years was 1.3 cases per 100 000 person-years.

Almost half of the girls, 47% and over half of the boys, 55% had growth delay.¹

Of those who had an eating disorder, 62.1% met the criteria for anorexia nervosa.¹

The incidence of eating disorders was 2 to 4 times greater than that of Type 2 Diabetes in children and youth across all ages to 18 years.¹

Although children with anorexia nervosa were more likely to be medically compromised, some children who did not meet criteria for anorexia nervosa were equally medically unstable.¹

*Cases were defined as any child aged 5 to 12 years seen in the previous month with newly identified restrictive eating disorders symptoms.  In this study, the word restrictive refers to intentional limitation or avoidance of nutrition. A broad definition of eating disorders was used, which included any disordered eating behavior sufficient to cause a disruption, weight gain.

¹Pinhas L, Morris A, Crosby RD, Katzman DK. Incidence and Age-Specific Presentation of Restrictive Eating Disorders in ChildrenA Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program Study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med.2011;165(10):895–899. doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2011.145