Study Reveals Hidden Link Between Poverty and Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or body size. However, a persistent myth suggests that eating disorders are mainly “diseases of affluence,” affecting only wealthy individuals. A new UK study, published in JAMA Network Open, challenges this belief. It found that eating disorders and socioeconomic status are strongly linked, with children from financially disadvantaged families being more likely to develop symptoms in their teenage years.
This finding highlights the need to recognise and treat eating disorders in young people from all backgrounds, not just those from wealthier families.
What the Study Investigated
Previous research has shown that eating disorders occur across all socioeconomic groups. But this new large-scale study is one of the first to show that childhood financial hardship can increase the risk of eating disorder symptoms in adolescence.
Researchers followed 7,824 children from birth to 18 years. They collected data on parents’ education, type of work, income levels, and even day-to-day financial struggles, such as difficulty paying for food, rent, heating, or baby items. Mothers rated these struggles on a scale of 0–15, with higher scores meaning more hardship.
When the children became teenagers, researchers looked for signs of disordered eating. These included excessive dieting, binge eating, vomiting, laxative use, fasting, and negative body image.
Key Findings
The results revealed a clear connection between eating disorders and socioeconomic status:
- For every one-point increase in financial hardship, teens had a 6% higher chance of showing eating disorder symptoms.
- Teens whose parents had only compulsory schooling were 80% more likely to show disordered eating compared to those with university-educated parents.
- Families in the lowest income groups had a 34–35% higher risk of teens developing symptoms compared to the wealthiest group.
Unlike earlier studies, this one included young people with symptoms, not just those with a formal diagnosis. Since people from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to seek medical help or receive a diagnosis, this approach gave researchers a more accurate picture of how widespread the issue really is.
Why These Results Matter
This study shows that financial hardship is not only a social challenge it can also be a risk factor for eating disorders. The outdated stereotype that eating disorders mostly affect wealthy, thin, young women is harmful. In reality, disordered eating can impact anyone, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds may face even greater risks.
Yet, barriers to treatment remain. People from lower-income families are less likely to seek professional help, partly because of the misconception that eating disorders only affect the wealthy. In addition, weight-related stigma and higher rates of obesity in disadvantaged groups may prevent doctors from referring patients for eating disorder treatment. Disorders such as bulimia and binge eating, which are not always associated with thinness, often go unnoticed.
Conclusion
The link between eating disorders and socioeconomic status shows that financial hardship in childhood can increase the risk of disordered eating in the teenage years. By breaking down harmful stereotypes and improving access to affordable care, we can better support young people from all backgrounds who are struggling with these serious health issues.
Source:Â Inputs from various media SourcesÂ
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
- Health News and Updates,People Forum
- 25 August 2025
- 13:00
