Eating disorders among adolescents in Germany (Essstörungen bei Jugendlichen)
Treatment options – costs – health insurance coverage

What are the most common eating disorders?
Among adolescents in Germany, the most frequent eating disorders are:

• Anorexia nervosa
  Compulsive weight loss, intense fear of gaining weight, severe underweight that can become life-threatening.

• Bulimia nervosa
  Recurrent binge-eating episodes followed by self-induced vomiting, strict fasting or excessive exercising to compensate.

• Binge-Eating Disorder
  Repeated episodes of excessive food intake without compensatory behaviours afterwards, often leading to overweight or obesity.

Specialised treatment options

• Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics (Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, KJPP)
  Provide integrated psychological and medical treatment in an age-appropriate setting, with close physical and mental health monitoring.

• Specialised eating disorder centres (Essstörungszentren)
  Available in most federal states, for example:

  • Charité Berlin – Eating Disorder Unit

  • Schön Klinik Roseneck

  • Klinik am Korso (Bad Oeynhausen)

• Specialist psychiatrists for children and adolescents
  Offer outpatient psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment, including medication if necessary.

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in outpatient psychological practices
  A key treatment approach helping adolescents to change dysfunctional thoughts and behaviours around food and body image.

• Day clinic programmes (Tagesklinik)
  Suitable for cases requiring intensive daily support, while the adolescent spends nights at home instead of staying in hospital.

Costs and statutory health insurance coverage (GKV)

• Initial psychological assessment and diagnostics
  Covered by GKV, usually without any special referral.

• Psychotherapy / behavioural therapy (individual or group sessions)
  Covered, after initial trial sessions and approval of a treatment plan by the health insurance fund.

• Treatment in a specialised eating disorder clinic
  Covered once a medical report is submitted and the admission is approved by the insurer.

• Inpatient treatment in a psychiatric hospital for children and adolescents
  Covered in severe cases or when close medical and nutritional monitoring is required.

• Nutritional counselling and group therapy on eating behaviour
  Often covered if it is part of an approved treatment concept and recommended by the physician.

• Treatment in private practices without statutory contract
  Usually not covered; prior written approval is often required, otherwise costs must be paid out-of-pocket.

Where should parents seek help first?

• Typically, parents should contact the family doctor (Hausarzt) or paediatrician (Kinderarzt) first for an initial assessment.

• If needed, the adolescent is then referred to:

  • a child and adolescent psychotherapist, or

  • a specialised eating disorder clinic / centre.

Important notes

• Delays in diagnosis and treatment significantly increase the risk of serious physical and psychological complications, such as heart rhythm problems, severe malnutrition, depression and anxiety.

• Many specialised centres have long waiting lists, so early registration and appointment booking is strongly advised.

• In acute life-threatening situations or when there is a high risk of self-harm, treatment can in some cases be initiated even without parental consent, depending on the adolescent’s age, capacity to consent and the legal framework.

The editorial and author team of the website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some details may become outdated. Please regard this article as an initial reference only and always consult doctors, therapists and competent authorities for binding and up-to-date information.