Diseases - Health insurance: Disorders are not a purely female issue
In Hessen, according to health insurance data, the number of Eating Disorders is increasing. Women are still the most affected group, but the number of men diagnosed with such conditions has also risen significantly, as shown in the Barmer Morbidity and Social Atlas.
Between 2018 and 2022, the diagnosis rate in Hessen increased by approximately 19%. In 2022, 8.1 out of 1,000 Women were affected. For men, the figure was 1.7 cases per 1,000. The data suggests that affected men are slightly younger than affected women.
Increase in Men's Cases Double
However, the diagnosis rate for men increased by nearly 31% between 2018 and 2022. Women, on the other hand, saw a smaller increase of around 16% in the same timeframe. Martin Till, CEO of Barmer, believes there is a high rate of undiagnosed cases.
Why is the number of men increasing so much? One possible explanation could be that conditions such as Bulimia and Anorexia are more commonly expected in women. "Men have a higher threshold to admit the disease and seek help," Till explains. However, the rising diagnosis rate also shows that more and more affected individuals are seeking help.
Frankfurt has the highest rate of diagnosed Eating Disorders in Hessen
The Morbidity Atlas shows that, on average, 6.8 people per 1,000 in Frankfurt am Main received the diagnosis of Eating Disorder in 2022. This diagnosis rate in Frankfurt is almost 40% higher than the Hessian average of 4.9 per 1,000. The Landkreis Kassel had the lowest number of reported cases, with 3.1 cases per 1,000 people.
The number of diagnoses is always influenced by the level of care in a region. Where more people find help, more cases are diagnosed. Therefore, the number of affected individuals in metropolitan areas is usually higher.
What other health issues do Affected Individuals Face?
According to Barmer, Eating Disorders often co-occur with other psychological issues. Around 61% of individuals with an Eating Disorder also received the diagnosis of Depression. Thirty-seven percent of these individuals also suffered from Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Personality and Behavioral Disorders were additional diagnoses for around one-fifth of individuals with an Eating Disorder.
- The increase in eating disorders in Hesse, as indicated by health insurance data, is not exclusive to women; the number of men diagnosed with such conditions has also risen significantly.
- Frankfurter Frauen sind weiterhin die meisten Betroffenen, aber die Zahl der in Hessen diagnostizierten Männer hat sich in den letzten Jahren um etwa 31% gesteigert.
- Barmen und Kassel haben einen niedrigeren Diagnose-Rate für Eating Disorders als Frankfurt am Main.
- Protecting the mental health of individuals with eating disorders and raising awareness about the conditions is crucial to encourage early intervention and help-seeking behavior.
- The prevalence of eating disorders in Frankfurt am Main is higher than the Hessian average, suggesting that there may be more resources and awareness about these conditions in more urban areas.
