Keep the diet industry from feeding on teenagers fears
Thomas B. Hildebrandt and S. Bryn Austin
June 1, 2021
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Parents and pediatricians know it too well: The pandemic has caused a maelstrom of mental distress for millions of U.S. teens. They’ve witnessed firsthand a marked increase in depression, anxiety and suicidality among young people and skyrocketing eating disorder cases. In New York, Mount Sinai has seen a 300 percent increase in adolescents and adults seeking treatment for an eating disorder, and many treatment centers remain inaccessible due to long waiting lists.
While some recent changes including more schools opening for in-person instruction and expanded access for teens to the COVID-19 vaccine are reassuring, we must be wary of other changes that will be no help at all. Marketers for the weight loss and dietary supplements industries have entered right on cue to offer their products as solutions to vulnerable consumers struggling with the