Children up to the age of 15 with an eating disorder can stay at the child psychiatry PAika of UZ Brussel. PAika receives three to four registrations per week, a doubling compared to the period before corona. The average age in the department is now 11 to 13 years.
The Center for Eating Disorders of UZ Gent also notices a clear increase. In 2020, 12 to 15-year-olds made up 6 percent of patients. In 2021 that was already a quarter, and that trend will continue in 2022.
In the child psychiatry of ZNA Antwerp, the average age of patients with an eating disorder is 13 to 14 years, with peaks up to 11 years. And the UPC in Leuven and the psychiatric clinic Alexians in Tienen also notice a rejuvenation of the patients, although they do not provide exact figures.