Children with food allergies face significantly elevated risks of developing eating disorders, anxiety, and depression compared to their peers without such allergies, according to a large-scale study published online July 16 in the European Journal of Pediatrics. The research also highlights that these mental health risks differ from those associated with other chronic childhood conditions like asthma, type 1 diabetes, and atopic dermatitis.
Led by Natalie Flaks-Manov of the KI Research Institute in Kfar Malal, Israel, the retrospective study analyzed data from 1,153,984 children (aged 0–18) across UK primary care practices between 2000 and 2021. Participants were divided into five groups: those with food allergies (23,263 children, median age 5, 43% girls); those without food allergies (1,130,721 children, median age 8, 48% girls); and three control groups with other chronic conditions but no food allergies—asthma (136,453 children), type 1 diabetes (4,835 children), and atopic dermatitis (207,575 children). All participants were followed for 1 to 20 years to track the onset of specific mental health conditions.
Children with food allergies showed markedly higher risks of mental health diagnoses compared to those without allergies:
Eating disorders: 85% higher risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.42–2.41).
Anxiety: 35% higher risk (aHR = 1.35; 95% CI, 1.25–1.45).
Depression: 24% higher risk (aHR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.11–1.39).
Notably, the risks varied when compared to other chronic conditions:
Children with food allergies had a 23% lower risk of depression than those with asthma (aHR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.68–0.87) and a 36% lower risk than those with type 1 diabetes (aHR = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54–0.76).
They also had a 14% lower risk of anxiety than peers with asthma (aHR = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79–0.91).
The study’s authors emphasize the need for a holistic approach to managing food allergies, integrating mental health screening and support into routine care. This could include regular psychological assessments, educational programs for families on mental health risks, and closer collaboration between allergists and mental health professionals.
The research has potential limitations, including its retrospective design and reliance on routine electronic health records, which lack specialist confirmation of mental health diagnoses or standardized assessment tools. Data on condition severity and family mental health history were also unavailable.
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