Eating Disorders Prevalence
In the United States, as many as 10 million females and 1 million males are fighting a life and death battle with an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia.
Millions more are struggling with binge eating disorder
Many more individuals struggle with body dissatisfaction and sub-clinical disordered eating attitudes and behaviors.
Data from the NIMH-funded National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) was published in February 1, 2007, issue of Biological Psychiatry:
- Nearly 1 percent of women and 0.3 percent of men reported having anorexia at some time in their lives
- 1.5 percent of women and 0.5 percent of men reported having bulimia.
- 3.5 percent of women and 2 percent of men reported having binge-eating disorder at some point in their lives.
- People with eating disorders, regardless of the type, often have coexisting mood, anxiety, impulse-control, or substance use disorders.
Because of the secretiveness and shame associated with eating disorders, many cases are probably not reported.
80% of American women are dissatisfied with their appearance (Smolak, 1996).
Mortality
For females between 15-24 years old who suffer from anorexia nervosa, the mortality rate associated with the illness is twelve times higher than the death rate of ALL other causes of death (Sullivan, 1995).
Without treatment—and most patients are not being treated– one-fifth of patients will die prematurely.
Even with treatment, after 8 to 25 years, the premature mortality rates are 4% for AN patients, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa (BN) patients and 5.2% for those with eating disorders not otherwise specified, or EDNOS.
- 40% of newly identified cases of anorexia are in girls 15-19 years old.
- Significant increase in incidence of anorexia from 1935 to 1989 especially among young women 15-24.
- A rise in incidence of anorexia in young women 15-19 in each decade since 1930.
- The incidence of bulimia in 10-39 year old women TRIPLED between 1988 and 1993.
- Only one-third of people with anorexia in the community receive mental health care.
- Only 6% of people with bulimia receive mental health care.
- The majority of people with severe eating disorders do not receive adequate care.
Hoek, H.W., & van Hoeken, D. (2003). Review of the prevalence and incidence of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 383-396.
Sullivan, P. (1995). American Journal of Psychiatry, 152 (7), 1073-1074.
Smolak, L. (1996). National Eating Disorders Association/Next Door Neighbors Puppet Guide Book.
Hudson JI, Hiripi E, Pope HG, Kessler RC. The Prevalence and Correlates of Eating Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Biological Psychiatry 2007; 61:348-358.