A University College London study challenges the stereotype that eating disorders primarily affect affluent families. Reviewing 51 studies with 26,174 adolescents, researchers found teenagers from lower-income households were actually more likely to exhibit disordered eating symptoms.

The analysis revealed that “family income showed the strongest and most consistent correlation,” with approximately two-thirds of studies documenting higher rates among lower-income youth. Parental education also mattered—teenagers whose parents didn’t attend university were roughly 25% more likely to report eating disorder symptoms.

Dr. Nora Trompeter stated: “Eating disorders don’t discriminate by income or education. If anything, the evidence points the other way.” She emphasized that overlooking at-risk adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds can lead to missed diagnoses and delayed treatment.

The research calls for healthcare professionals and school counselors to broaden their assumptions about who needs screening. However, the study notes limitations: most participants were White adolescents from Western countries, and varying measurement methods across studies complicated firm conclusions.

Journal: International Journal of Eating Disorders
Article Title: Research update: A systematic review of the relationship between eating disorder symptoms and parental socioeconomic status (SES) among adolescents
Publication Date: September 8, 2026

Featured image credit: Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Source: EurekAlert