Increased tendency to self-harm in adolescent girls

London: Eating problems and self-harm have increased among teenage girls over the past three years, a new study has found.

According to research, girls aged 13 to 16 years are 42 percent more likely than in March 2020 to have bulimia and anorexia are more affected.

While in the same period, there has been a 32 percent increase in the tendency of self-harm among these girls.

Experts believe that these problems are due to social isolation, anxiety due to change in lifestyle, disruption in education and unhealthy effects of social media.

In the study, researchers from the University of Manchester, Keele University, University of Exeter and mental health research charity The McPin Foundation studied more than 9 million patient records obtained from 1881 general practitioners in the UK.

A study published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal found that since the pandemic, eating problems among girls aged 13 to 16 have increased by 42 per cent and among girls aged 17-19 by 32 per cent. However, no such increase in this problem was seen in boys.

On the other hand, girls aged 13 to 16 showed a 38 per cent higher than expected rate of self-harm, while no increase was seen in boys or girls of other ages.

The charity BEAT has expressed concern over unfair medical facilities for the sick. According to the organization, children who belong to rich families are diagnosed with these problems.

Among girls belonging to wealthy families, the rate of diagnosis of these problems is 52 percent, while among girls belonging to poor families, the rate of diagnosis is 22 percent.