Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Eating disorders are up among teens during COVID. How adults can spot red flags and help
Eating disorders jumped in the last year as more young people spent time on screens, according to new research from UC San Francisco.
By Madeleine Brand • • 50m ListenEating disorders jumped in the last year as more young people spent time on screens, according to new research from UC San Francisco. Hospitalizations at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital doubled since March 2020 — for eating disorders such as binging, bulimia, and compulsive exercise.
Jason Nagata, professor of pediatrics at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, says some teenagers have gained weight during the pandemic due to overeating or a more sedentary lifestyle. And it’s led to heightened body image concerns.
He says lots of teens have attributed to being on-camera during virtual learning as a trigger for their concerns.
Others, including student athletes, have restricted their eating or compulsively exercised. Nagata says that’s an example of individuals trying to regain a semblance of control in their lives.
In this episode
5 storiesIn week 2, how Derek Chauvin’s trial proves to be different from all other police trials
Pulmonologist Dr. Martin Tobin testified this morning in the trial against former Minneapolis police officer Dereck Chauvin, the man accused of killing George Floyd. He said, “Mr. Floyd died from a low level of oxygen.
Read the story10 minWhy some California inmates are waiting up to 12 years for their day in court: CalMatters investigation
In California, more than 44,000 people are in jail without having been convicted. Some have been there for years, waiting to go to trial.
Read the story10 minEating disorders among teens are up during COVID. Pediatrician offers tips on what to watch for
Eating disorders jumped in the last year as more young people spent time on screens, according to new research from UC San Francisco.
Read the story8 minHalf a billion Facebook users were hacked. Should we care about yet another data breach?
Facebook is embroiled in yet another data privacy scandal.
Read the story9 minAfter a century, gray wolves return to California. Local ranchers aren’t thrilled
The last gray wolf in California was killed nearly a century ago, ridding the state of one of its natural predators. But in 2015, a female wolf was spotted in Lassen County.
Read the story12 min
