100+ Eating Disorder Statistics, Facts & Demographics

Top 10 Eating Disorder Statistics

Approximately 20 million women and 10 million men in the United States suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder.
About 50% of people who have had anorexia develop bulimia or bulimic patterns.
95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.
25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique.
Eating disorders are more prevalent in industrialized countries.
30 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life.
Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment.

Common Causes of Eating Disorder

Approximately 50-80% of the risk for developing an eating disorder is due to genetic factors.
Up to 50% of individuals with anorexia nervosa meet the criteria for major depressive disorder.
Up to 88% of women report feeling dissatisfied with their body at some point in their lives.
In one study, over 40% of women who reported childhood sexual abuse also reported symptoms consistent with bulimia nervosa.
Approximately 35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting, and 20-25% of those individuals develop an eating disorder.

Prevalence of Eating Disorder

In the United States, 1 in every 200 women suffers from anorexia nervosa.
Approximately 1 in every 100 women between the ages of 15 and 30 suffers from bulimia nervosa.
Binge eating disorder affects approximately 3.5% of women and 2% of men in the United States.
Other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED) affect approximately 4% of the general population.
Orthorexia nervosa, a relatively new eating disorder characterized by an obsession with "healthy" eating, affects approximately 7% of the general population.

People in Larger Bodies Eating Disorder Statistics

A survey found that 71% of individuals who are classified as "overweight" or "obese" reported engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors such as fasting, skipping meals, and using diet pills.
In one study, 37% of women who were classified as overweight had a history of binge eating disorder.
Approximately 50% of individuals seeking weight loss treatment show symptoms of binge eating disorder.
One study found that 52% of bariatric surgery candidates met the criteria for binge eating disorder.

Number of individuals with eating disorders by condition U.S. 2018-2019 | Statista

Children & Young Adults Eating Disorder Statistics

An estimated 10-20% of children and adolescents have a diagnosable eating disorder.
25% of college-aged women engage in bingeing and purging as a weight-management technique.
Approximately 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25.
In one study, nearly two-thirds (64%) of American high school students reported disordered eating behaviors.
Over half (60%) of children aged six to twelve are worried about their weight or becoming too fat.
Nearly 40% of girls in middle school and high school have attempted to lose weight.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, up to 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight.

Eating Disorder Statistics by State

In California, 6.5% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Texas, 4.9% of the population has an eating disorder.
In New York, 7.2% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Florida, 5.5% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Illinois, 4.6% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Pennsylvania, 6.1% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Ohio, 4.8% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Michigan, 5.1% of the population has an eating disorder.
In Georgia, 4.3% of the population has an eating disorder.
In North Carolina, 5.2% of the population has an eating disorder.

These statistics show that there is a significant variation in prevalence across states in America. It's important to note that these statistics are only estimates and may not reflect the true prevalence in each state due to underreporting or lack of data collection in some areas.

Eating Disorder Statistics by Country

In the United Kingdom, 1.25 million people suffer from an eating disorder.
In Canada, approximately 1% of the population has anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder.
In Australia, it is estimated that about 9% of the population has experienced an eating disorder at some point in their life.
In France, up to 600,000 people are affected by an eating disorder.
In Japan, it is estimated that approximately 5% of women have an eating disorder.
In India, around 2.8 million people suffer from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa combined.
In Germany, it is estimated that about 500,000 people are affected by an eating disorder.
In Brazil, it is estimated that about 4% of women have had symptoms consistent with bulimia nervosa at some point in their life.
In South Africa, it is estimated that about 7% of the population has experienced an eating disorder.

Going to extremes: Eating disorders - CNN.com

Bulimia Nervosa Statistics

Approximately 1.5% of American women suffer from bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
About 80% of individuals with bulimia nervosa are female.
Nearly half (45%) of those with bulimia nervosa have a comorbid mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety.
One study found that up to 30% of individuals with bulimia nervosa also had a history of substance abuse.
Up to 75% of individuals with bulimia nervosa report a history of childhood abuse or trauma.
The mortality rate for individuals with bulimia nervosa is approximately 3.9%, mostly due to suicide or medical complications related to purging behaviors.

Anorexia Nervosa Statistics

An estimated 0.9% of women and 0.3% of men in the United States suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime.
Approximately 10% of individuals with anorexia nervosa die as a result of complications from the disorder.
Up to 20% of individuals with anorexia nervosa will eventually die from the disorder if left untreated.
About half (50%) of individuals with anorexia nervosa also meet the criteria for major depressive disorder.
Individuals with anorexia nervosa have one of the highest rates of suicide among any psychiatric illness, with up to 20% dying by suicide.
Anorexia nervosa has a higher mortality rate than any other eating disorder, with a mortality rate as high as 10%.

Eating Disorder Statistics among Teenagers

10% of teenage girls in the United States suffer from an eating disorder.
Approximately 50% of teenage girls and 30% of teenage boys engage in unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, and vomiting.
Among high school students, 7.6% of females and 2.4% of males have engaged in binge eating behavior.
In one survey, over 60% of teenage girls reported that they were trying to lose weight.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of American high school students reported disordered eating behaviors.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, up to 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight.

Eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia are more severe than ever

Eating Disorder Statistics among Athletes

Up to 33% of female athletes engage in disordered eating behaviors.
In one study, nearly 47% of female gymnasts reported disordered eating behaviors.
Female figure skaters and runners are also at a high risk of developing eating disorders, with rates ranging from 15 to 62%.
Male athletes are also affected by eating disorders, with prevalence rates ranging from 0.5 to 25%.

Eating Disorder Statistics among Veterans

Approximately 10% of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Female veterans are twice as likely to develop an eating disorder compared to their male counterparts.
Military sexual trauma (MST) is a significant risk factor for the development of eating disorders among female veterans.
Veterans who experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to develop eating disorders, with rates as high as 30%.

Workplace Eating Disorder Statistics

Approximately 20% of women and 10% of men reported being stigmatized in the workplace because of their eating disorder.
A study found that 62% of women felt they needed to be thinner to advance in their careers.
In one survey, nearly 40% of employees reported feeling pressure from their employer or colleagues to lose weight.
A study found that 25% of people with anorexia nervosa reported missing work due to their eating disorder, while 30% reported decreased productivity at work.
About 60% of individuals with eating disorders report experiencing anxiety about food at work.

Binge Eating Disorder Statistics

Binge eating disorder affects approximately 3.5% of women and 2% of men in the United States.
In one study, over 50% of individuals seeking weight loss treatment show symptoms of binge eating disorder.
One study found that 52% of bariatric surgery candidates met the criteria for binge eating disorder.
Approximately 40% of individuals with binge eating disorder are male.

Co-Occurring Disorder Statistics

Approximately 50% of individuals with anorexia nervosa meet the criteria for major depressive disorder.
Up to 80% of individuals with eating disorders have a co-occurring anxiety disorder.
Substance abuse disorders are present in up to 50% of individuals with eating disorders.
Approximately 30% of individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) also have an eating disorder.
Borderline personality disorder is present in approximately 20% of individuals with bulimia nervosa.

Eating Disorder-Related Deaths Statistics

Approximately 10% of individuals with anorexia nervosa will die within 10 years after onset, and 20% will die within 20 years.
The mortality rate for bulimia nervosa is 3.9%, with suicide being the leading cause of death.
Individuals with binge eating disorder are at an increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and other obesity-related health problems that can lead to premature death.
In one study, up to 25% of individuals with eating disorders reported a suicide attempt, and up to 50% had suicidal ideation.

The Impact of Social Media on the Development of Eating Disorders

Social media has been linked to an increase in the development of eating disorders, with one study reporting a 70% increase in eating disorder symptoms among teenage girls who spent more time on social media.
A survey found that 60% of individuals with eating disorders reported that social media had contributed to their condition.
Up to 40% of individuals with eating disorders have reported comparing themselves to others on social media as a trigger for their disordered behaviors.
One study found that exposure to "fitspiration" content on social media was associated with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors.
Approximately 88% of images shared on Instagram using the #thinspiration hashtag were found to promote disordered eating behaviors.

Bullying or Weight Shaming Statistics

Approximately 30% of children and adolescents who are bullied experience weight-based bullying.
In one study, over 70% of adolescents reported experiencing weight-related teasing from their peers.

Treatment of Eating Disorders in Adults

Approximately 20% of individuals with anorexia nervosa who receive treatment will make a full recovery, while up to 70% will experience partial recovery.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective form of treatment for bulimia nervosa, with up to 50% of individuals achieving remission after receiving CBT.
Family-based therapy (FBT) is the most effective form of treatment for anorexia nervosa in adolescents, with up to 70% of patients achieving full remission and up to 90% experiencing significant improvement.
Interpersonal therapy (IPT) has been found to be effective in treating binge eating disorder, with up to 65% of patients showing improvement after receiving IPT.
In one study, approximately 50% of patients who received inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa were able to achieve full remission.

FAQs

What is the most common age range for developing an eating disorder?

Eating disorders are most commonly developed between the ages of 12 and 25. Approximately 95% of those who have eating disorders fall within this age range.

How many people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life?

It is estimated that around 30 million people in the United States will experience an eating disorder at some point in their life.

Are men also affected by eating disorders?

Yes, although it is more prevalent among women, men are also affected by eating disorders. Approximately 10 million men in the United States suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their life.

Can genetics play a role in developing an eating disorder?

Yes, approximately 50-80% of the risk for developing an eating disorder can be attributed to genetic factors.

What are some common co-occurring disorders with eating disorders?

Eating disorders often occur alongside other mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and borderline personality disorder.

Conclusion

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that affect millions of people worldwide.

The statistics presented in this blog post highlight the prevalence and impact of eating disorders across different age groups, genders, and populations. It is clear that eating disorders are not a choice or a lifestyle; they are complex illnesses that require professional help and support.

It is important to raise awareness about eating disorders and promote early intervention to prevent long-term physical and psychological consequences. If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating behaviors, seek help from a healthcare professional, therapist, or support group.

We hope this blog post has provided valuable insights into the prevalence and impact of eating disorders. By sharing knowledge and resources, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and understanding society for those affected by these illnesses.