The impact of COVID-19 on adolescents with eating disorders: Increased need for medical stabilization and decreased access to care.

Objective: We aimed to identify trends of patients with eating disorders (EDs) requiring hospitalization before and during the pandemic at a children's hospital in the southeastern United States.

Method: A retrospective chart review was completed for 71 adolescents and young adults (ages 10-21 years; M = 14.61, SD = 2.121).

Results: Results indicated a 188% increase in ED hospital admissions since the pandemic, with patients presenting with increased rates of comorbid mental health diagnoses (p = .009). During COVID-19, the development of temporary outpatient multidisciplinary discharge plans (i.e., "bridge plans") were utilized more often due to difficulties accessing the appropriate level of care (p = .039).

Discussion: Results suggest a significant increase in youth requiring medical stabilization for EDs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (2.9 times more than prepandemic), as well as a need for greater advocacy to increase specialized mental health services along the full continuum of care.

Public Significance Statement: This study brings awareness to the significant increase in patients needing medical stabilization secondary to restrictive EDs and increased rates of comorbid mental health diagnoses in this patient population since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients during COVID-19 were less likely to directly transition to treatment likely secondary to the strain COVID-19 placed on mental health systems/treatment centers. Increased advocacy for specialized care for eating disorder patients.