Gen Z are at risk of eating disorders, as the struggles of 2 Hong Kong women show

Gen Z worldwide are struggling with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, experts say, with social media a factor

Reading Time:5 minutes

Social media such as Instagram and TikTok are contributing to Gen Z’s risk of eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, experts say. Illustration: Davies Christian Surya

Published: 7:45am, 11 Aug 2024Updated: 5:17pm, 15 Aug 2024

This is the fourth article in a six-part series on Gen Z and mental health, in which we look at some of the conditions they are experiencing, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. We talk to Gen Zs who share their stories, and to experts for their advice on ways to recover and thrive.

In 2016, when Natalie Chung was in high school in Hong Kong, she started to feel disappointed that she was not skinny enough.

“I was not fat at all, but I wanted to look like those Instagram models and achieve ‘SpongeBob legs’. I started dieting and became obsessed with calories – and exercised obsessively to compensate for the amount of calories I consumed,” she says.

At social events, she would eat tiny meal portions. She grew thinner by the day.

Natalie Chung, now 24, was scared to admit to her family and friends that she had anorexia. Photo: Natalie Chung

While Chung, now 24, was never diagnosed with an eating disorder, deep down she knew that she had anorexia nervosa.

Those with this disease have an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, and a distorted perception of weight, according to the US-based Mayo Clinic. They place a high value on controlling their weight and shape, using extreme efforts that tend to significantly interfere with their lives.

SCMP Series

Gen Z and mental health

[ 4 of 6 ]