Incidence and prevalence of eating disorders among active duty US military‐dependent youth from 2016 to 2021

Abstract: Objective: The offspring of US military service members may be at increased risk for eating disorders. However, no epidemiological studies to date have evaluated eating disorder incidence rates and prevalence estimates among military‐dependent youth. Method: This retrospective cohort study examined eating disorder diagnoses in the military healthcare system (MHS) from 2016 through 2021. Active duty and national guard military‐dependent youth, aged 10–17 years, who received care in the MHS via TRICARE Prime insurance, were identified by one or more ICD‐10 codes indicative of an eating disorder diagnosis (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge‐eating disorder, and other‐specified eating disorders). Results: During the 6‐year surveillance period, 2534 dependents received incident diagnoses of eating disorders, with a crude overall incidence rate of 1.75 cases per 10,000 person‐years. The most common diagnosis was other‐specified eating disorder, followed by anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge‐eating disorder. The crude annual incidence rate of all eating disorder diagnoses increased by nearly 65% from 2016 to 2021. Rates for all diagnoses were highest in 2020 and 2021. Period prevalence estimates were.08% for any eating disorder diagnosis,.01% for anorexia nervosa,.004% for bulimia nervosa,.004% for binge‐eating disorder, and.06% for other‐specified eating disorders. Discussion: The observed increase in eating disorder diagnoses during the surveillance period appeared to be driven by female dependents. More military dependents experienced a new‐onset diagnosis during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to previous years. These Findings highlight the need for eating disorder screening, identification, and treatment for dependents within the MHS. Public Significance Statement: Children of US military service members may be at increased risk for eating disorders. Results indicate new‐onset eating disorder cases increased 65% from 2016 to 2021, primarily among girls compared to boys. The most diagnosed and fastest growing diagnosis was other‐specified eating disorder. Rates of anorexia nervosa increased following the COVID‐19 pandemic. Findings highlight the need for eating disorder screening, identification, and treatment within the military healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] — Copyright of International Journal of Eating Disorders is the property of Wiley, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Read the full article
Report a problem with this article

Related articles

  • More for Researchers

    The impact of exposure to morally injurious events on posttraumatic stress symptoms among Israeli combat Veterans: a longitudinal moderated mediation model of moral injury outcomes and dispositional forgiveness

    Abstract: Background: Exposure to potentially morally injurious events (PMIEs) during military service can lead to moral injury (MI) outcomes and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). This longitudinal study examined the relationships between PMIE exposure, MI outcomes, and PTSS among Israeli combat veterans, and the potential protective role of dispositional forgiveness in these associations. Method: Participants were 169 Israeli combat veterans who participated in a six-year longitudinal study with four measurement points (T1: 12 months before enlistment, T2: Six months following enlistment- pre-deployment, T3: 18 months following enlistment- post-deployment, and T4: 28 months following discharge). Participants’ characteristics were assessed via semi-structured interviews (T1) and validated self-report measures (T2-T4) between 2019-2024. Results: Approximately 36% of participants reported exposure to PMIEs during service, with 13% exceeding the clinical threshold for probable PTSD at T4. PMIE-Betrayal at T3 was positively associated with MI outcomes of shame and trust violation at T4. The indirect effect of PMIEs on PTSS through MI outcome-Shame depended on forgiveness levels. Among veterans with low forgiveness, higher exposure to PMIE-Betrayal was associated with increased MI shame, which was linked to more severe PTSS. Conversely, for those with high forgiveness, exposure to PMIE-Self and Other was associated with decreased MI shame and subsequently reduced PTSS. Conclusion: Dispositional forgiveness moderates the relationship between PMIE exposure and MI outcomes, particularly shame, which mediates the development of PTSS. These findings highlight forgiveness as a potential target for intervention in treating moral injury and preventing PTSS among combat veterans.

    Mental Health Peer reviewed