In the CDC study, the agency said the rate of eating disorder visits had doubled among teenage girls, due to risk factors associated with the outbreak, such as a “lack of structure in daily routines, emotional distress and changes in food availability”.
The agency said the increase in tics was “atypical” because the disorder often appears earlier and is more common in boys. But the CDC, Increased speculation from clinicians and other researchershe said some teenage girls may develop tics after seeing the phenomenon go viral on social media, including TikTok.
The CDC writes that “outbreak-induced stress or exposure to severe tics, which are highlighted on social media platforms, may be associated with increased visits with tics and tic-like behaviors. in adolescent girls”.
In a related report, The CDC also said on Friday That the increase in visits for mental health issues occurred as emergency rooms reported a generally marked decline in visits during the pandemic. Compared to 2019, total visits were down 51% in 2020 and 22% in 2021, which the agency attributed in part to families’ delays in care and fewer physical injuries from injuries. activities such as swimming and running.
There was a decrease in the total number of emergency room visits due to mental health problems among all young adults, up to the age of 17. The increases occurred for some illnesses, particularly among teenage girls.