Eating disorders: the situation in the European Union

15.12.2021

Priority question for written answer  P-005594/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Stefania Zambelli (ID)

According to a report by Italy’s National Institute of Health (Istituto Superiore di Sanità –ISS), anorexia and bulimia nervosa are the most frequent and well-known forms of eating disorders and have, in the past 20 years or so, become a real mental health crisis because of the devastating effects they have on the lives and health of teenagers and young adults.

It is estimated that 20 million people suffer from eating disorders in Europe, three million of them in Italy alone.

People of any age, sex or social background can suffer from eating disorders but as a rule they are most prevalent in young women aged between 15 and 25, although there are a fair number of cases in younger age groups too.

The repercussions of the pandemic, social isolation and a severely curtailed social life will undoubtedly have had a serious impact on these disorders.

A number of studies show that anorexia is starting nowadays at an even earlier age, and that requests for help are rising and pre-existing eating disorders are growing worse.

In light of the above:

Does the Commission have figures (in percentages) for the number of people affected by anorexia and bulimia nervosa in the different Member States?

Will it support research in this field?

Will it, together with the Member States, promote information campaigns targeting young people, as they are the age group most affected by these disorders?