The number of young people in Japan newly diagnosed with the eating disorder anorexia rose about 60% in fiscal 2020 from the previous year, due possibly to increased stress and anxiety amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent survey shows. Fiscal 2020 ended in March this year.
Despite the uptick in patients some hospitals saw a lack of beds available for those with serious conditions, probably because of the need to allocate beds for treating COVID-19 patients, according to the survey released last month by the National Center for Child Health and Development.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an obsessive fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight. It can lead to a life-threatening condition or even death.