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A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: May 10, 2022

Social Disparity and Treatment-Seeking in Eating Disorders During Childhood and Adolescence: A Nationwide

Ella C Hesse Krenchel¹, Andrea Joensen¹, Else Marie Olsen²

¹Section of Epidemiology, University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark.

|July 31, 2026

Abstract

Objective:

Advantaged socioeconomic circumstances are linked to a higher risk of diagnosed eating disorders (EDs). However, evidence on non-diagnosed cases, that is, individuals reporting ED symptoms without formal diagnosis, remains limited, suggesting detection and treatment-seeking barriers. In this study, we assessed associations between socioeconomic circumstances and clinically diagnosed and non-diagnosed EDs in childhood and adolescence.

Method:

This study used data from the Danish National Birth Cohort, linking registry-based diagnosed EDs (participant ages 6-18 years) with self-reported ED symptoms at age 18 years. Data included 523,148 individuals born in Denmark between 1996 and 2003, with 44,552 providing information on self-reported ED symptoms used to classify non-diagnosed EDs. Socioeconomic indicators, including parental education and household income at age 6 years, were analyzed using quasi-Poisson and multinomial logistic regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and relative risk ratios (RRRs).

Results:

Diagnosed EDs were more common among individuals with higher parental education, following a stepwise pattern. Compared to short education (∼12 years), long education (∼17-20 years) was associated with higher risk (IRR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.21-1.52), whereas basic education (∼10 years) was linked to lower risk (IRR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.59-0.83). The pattern reversed for non-diagnosed EDs, with individuals whose parents had basic education showing a higher risk (RRR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.83-2.63) compared to individuals whose parents had short education. No clear pattern was observed for household income.

Conclusion:

This study highlights socioeconomic disparities in ED diagnosis and treatment. Individuals from educationally advantaged backgrounds were more likely to receive a diagnosis, whereas those from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds had a higher risk of non-diagnosed EDs.

Study Registration Information:

Parental Social Disparity and Adolescent Eating Disorders; https://osf.io/dm24e/.

Keywords:

adolescence childhood eating disorders socioeconomic circumstances

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