KIDS are 50 times more likely to suffer from “gender distress” than a decade ago, according to a study of NHS records.
One in 1,200 in 2021 said they experienced turmoil over their biological sex by the age of 18.
That compared to just one in every 60,000 in 2011.
The findings come as MPs were warned of a “conveyor belt” towards trans ideology.
The new study, from the University of York, found there was a faster growth in girls wanting to identify as boys, compared to the other way round.
Just 13 per cent of those officially diagnosed with “gender dysphoria” were prescribed puberty blockers or hormones.
Researchers also found those questioning their gender are more likely than average to have autism or mental health problems.
Study author Professor Tim Doran said increasing use of social media is one of the factors behind the rise.
In a meeting with MPs on Wednesday, top hormone doctor Professor Ashley Grossman, from Oxford University, warned of a “conveyor belt” towards trans ideology.
He told the Health and Social Care Committee: “Adolescence and childhood is quite a difficult time and highly confusing for a lot of children.
“My concern is that we’re not adequately assessing the probably much larger number who, with adequate counselling and psychological support, would eventually decide they wanted to stay cisgender.”
