Gastrointestinal issues in adolescents with eating disorders

Eating disorders (EDs) are a group of complex psychiatric disorders with significant physical and psychological complications. EDs are now more common than type 1 diabetes in the pediatric population and are occurring with increased frequency among adolescents from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.^1-3 Males comprise up to 10% of patients with EDs, and more patients are being diagnosed at younger ages.^1-3 The lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa (AN) is estimated to be between 0.5% to 2%, with a peak age of onset between 13 and 18 years and a mortality rate of up to 6%, making it the psychiatric illness with the highest mortality rate.¹ The lifetime prevalence of bulimia nervosa (BN) is 1% to 3%, with average age of onset between 16 and 17 years.¹ The mortality rate for BN is estimated to be 2%, with a further increase in mortality related to elevated suicide risk.