Eating disorders in girls?: Nutrition researcher advises: Don’t let studies mislead you!
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Thursday, May 9, 2024, 7:00 a.m
The latest data from the Commercial Health Insurance Fund (KKH) on eating disorders in girls has caused a stir. Nutritionist Uwe Klop explains how relative and absolute probabilities specifically guide our understanding of eating disorders and obesity.
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As a nutritionist, how do you interpret the new data from the KKH health insurance company on eating disorders?
The current data from the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH) show: Between 2012 and 2022, the cases of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating among twelve to 17-year-old girls increased from 0.9% to 1.4%. Conversely, this means: 98.6% of girls suffer not of eating disorders. This is basically very good news – despite the increase.
In the media, however, things are currently reading exactly differently: “The number of eating disorders among girls has risen sharply”. The reason is simple: In public communication, the significantly higher and therefore more impressive relative risks are often used, but not the better, because they are more realistic, absolute probabilities.
About the expert Uwe Knop
Uwe Knop, born in 1972, is a qualified nutritionist, author, and speaker for lectures at professional associations, companies and at medical training courses. His book “Successfully lose weight and stay slim” was published by Springer-Verlag.
How is relative probability different from absolute probability?
“The number of eating disorders in girls increases 54 percent increased!” That sounds a lot and dramatic. That is the relative Probability, which refers to the percentage increase from 90 cases (2012) to 139 cases (2022) per 10,000 insured people. The absolute Figures refer to the specific increase in overall frequency from 0.9% to 1.4%. “The number of eating disorders in girls increases 0.5 percent increased!” That doesn’t sound like a report that you “have to” read. This opinion-making method is very popular, especially in political communication, to justify “health measures”. You can read more about this in: How we are deceived with sleight of hand when it comes to fat children.
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How can distorted media reports influence the public’s understanding of nutrition issues?
Very strong. Especially when emotions are also targeted and supposedly “logical causes are integrated as obvious villains”. The figures about the “sharp increase in obese children” are a very good example of this – the alarm is regularly raised in numerous media outlets.
At the same time, politicians present the supposedly plausible solution, for example: “We need more child protection from unhealthy foods, and that requires an advertising ban!” But there is hardly any truth behind it. Better than pointless, evidence-free advertising bans would be a free school lunch for all children.
Book recommendation (advertisement)
“Successfully lose weight and stay slim” by Uwe Knop
As a consumer, how can you recognize and protect yourself against opinion-mongering regarding nutrition topics?
Everyone should not only understand the difference between described here absolute and relative probability and know how they are used in public communication to create targeted opinions (“framing”). Furthermore, it is essential today to know the difference between correlation and causation To know – because apparently some politicians like Karl Lauterbach don’t know it either.
The frequency (prevalence) of eating disorders is probably significantly higher, right?
Yes, especially today, when young people can hide their eating disorders for a long time behind various forms of “healthy eating” by “leveling up” them. Level 1: “I don’t eat meat, I’m a vegan…” Level 2: “I don’t eat meat or any animal products, I’m a vegan…” Level 3: “I don’t eat any meat, any animal products and no unhealthy carbohydrates, I’m a low-carb vegan…”
This scheme can be continued as desired by combining more and more “better eater hypes” – so the available range of foods becomes smaller and smaller, and this is also “officially accepted” by parents & co., because all forms of eating are “super healthy” on its own. This means that more and more foods can be removed from the menu – low-carb, keto, vegan. paleo and Co. have one thing in common: in all of these “culinary diaspora” something is left out – but always something different. Here you can find out which of these diets is the best
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This text comes from an expert from the FOCUS online EXPERTS Circle. Our experts have a high level of specialist knowledge in their subject area and are not part of the editorial team. Learn more.