Anorexia/Bulimia: Montreal pediatric emergencies receive more cases of eating disorders and more severe

The two pediatric emergencies in Montreal continue to receive a high number of young people suffering from eating disorders. Furthermore, but especially more severe or complex cases than those observed before the Pandemic of Covid-19.

The number of consultations linked to emergency food disorders of the Montreal Children’s Hospital (HME) tripled. However, from 28 in 2019 to 92 in 2024, according to data obtained by The duty.

During the health crisis, in 2021, a summit of 133 visits had been reached. For example, This was due to several factors. Similarly, including isolation and the absence of routine for meals during school closures, specifies the D^re Holly Agostino, director of the HME eating disorders program.

Today. However, young people who present themselves in the emergency room are sometimes already followed, “but the cases are now more severe than before the pandemic”, notes the D^re Agostino. However, This anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive could explain the persistence of the high number of visits to the hospital, says the teenage medicine specialist. Therefore, “Parents are unable to manage this at home, so they often come back to the emergency. Furthermore, »»

Same observation at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center (CHU). For example, also in Montreal, where there is an evolution of the patient’s profile. Meanwhile, Anorexia cases – which are most frequently seen in the emergency room of the hospital – are now more complex. Similarly, says the D^r Olivier Jamoulle, head of the teenage medicine section of the CHU.

These young people, who are mainly girls, now also present other mental health problems or family challenges, notes the pediatrician. However, “The classic profile of the first girl from hyperperformative class in a family -free family is now less frequent. But it still exists. Performance anxiety remains an important trigger factor, ”he adds.

Anorexia is characterized anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive by a food restriction, excessive weight loss and erroneous perception of its body. In 2024-2025. 113 visits to this disease were recorded in the emergency room of the Sainte-Justine CHU, according to data from the establishment. Before the pandemic, in 2019-2020, this number amounted to 43. The peak was reached in 2021-2022, with 132 consultations.

Currently, the wait to obtain monitoring in eating disorders can sometimes be long, explains the D^r Jamoulle. “Parents’ anxiety in the face of an increasingly difficult situation can push them to go to the emergency. Consulting for this remains a reflex to encourage in families, ”he says.

Anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive

Necessary resources – Anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive

This disease can take time to treat, notes the D^r Olivier Jamoulle. “But it is treated well if you put the necessary resources quickly, at the right times. »»

To properly treat adolescents suffering from anorexia, we need resources like doctors, psychologists, psychoeducators and nutritionists, anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive says the pediatrician. And this, over a sometimes long duration, he specifies.

However. some of these positions in Quebec are “in great fragility and completely saturated, especially in the context of budget cuts in the health network. It sometimes becomes difficult to look into all problems as it would be ideally, “he deplores.

Called to react. Health Quebec recalls that the organization of care is first of all establishments, which “have the necessary latitude” to reconcile their budgetary targets and the quality of services. She says she supports them in this exercise in order to maintain “accessibility, continuity and safety of care”.

The Crown Company also says working to better adapt care to meet growing needs, especially in youth mental health.

From the age of 8

Laura d’Amours. clinical coordinator at Anorexie and Boulimie Québec (ANEB), notes that her organization receives requests for help from increasingly young people. “We now have people aged 8 anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive and 9. Before, it was really more at the start of adolescence, so 12-13 years old, ”she notes.

According to her, social networks could partly explain this development. “Young people are confronted earlier and earlier with unrealistic beauty standards conveyed by the company. »»

Ève-Laurie Brousseau, 21, tells the Duty having suffered from anorexia for about 10 years. Additionally, “From the age of 15 to 20, I was hospitalized almost every year. I had a lot of deficiencies and my weight was falling a lot, ”says the young woman from Quebec.

She explains the way in which social networks harmed her during her career with this disease. “I was watching Tiktok and I said to myself:” Wow, these girls are beautiful. ” But in fact, they were sick. I see it now, how much the thinness is valued. »»

Vigilance of

It is important that parents are vigilant to the precursor signals of anorexia, anorexia/bulimia: montreal pediatric emergencies receive raises the D^r Jamoulle.

“If adolescents start. for example, to want to remove certain types of foods in their menu of the day or practice sport excessively, there may be something going on. Do not trivialize or let things go, “he warns.

“You really don’t have to take it lightly. ” added Ève-Laurie Brousseau, who suffered from serious health problems related to anorexia, including cardiac arrhythmia.

His hospitalization, a year ago, saved his life. “I had difficulty thinking so I was hidden. I spent almost five months in the hospital. When I got out, I had a healthy weight and I am now in my head. »»

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