Eating Disorder Statistics

Eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating, are becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the world. With the concept of fast food on the rise people are becoming obese. This has apparently led to eating disorder as well. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, between 5 per cent and 10 per cent of girls and women which is approximately 5-10 million people and 1 million boys and men suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, or other similar dietary circumstances. Estimates suggest that as many as 15 percent of young women adopt unhealthy approach and behaviors about food.

A predictable 10 per cent of female college students suffer from a clinical or sub-clinical eating disorder, of which over half suffer from bulimia nervosa. An estimated 1 in 100 American women binges and purges to lose weight. Due to fast and hectic life often people go wrong with eating and indulge into all this.

About 5 per cent of women and 1 percent of men have anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. 15 per cent of young women have significantly disordered eating attitudes and behavior. Studies suggest that 5 to 10 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are males in Canada itself.

An estimated 1 in 3 of all dieters develop compulsive dieting attitudes and behaviors.

Of these, one quarter will develop full or partial eating disorders. In the UK, nearly 2 in every 100 secondary school girls suffer from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder.

Due to the occurrence of co-occurring medical conditions, it is almost impracticable to identify the morbidity rates for eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia or binge eating. However, a common estimation suggest that as many as 10-15 per cent of eating disorders are fatal for those affected.

Because of the guilt and subsequent secretiveness of eating disorders especially bulimia and binge-eating it is likely that many case go unreported. Thus a higher incidence of eating disorders is almost positive.

According to studies into diet, weight loss and body shape, many people feel unhappy with their body shape, and develop borderline eating disorder. The existing standards of body weight and shape, as revealed in the use of abnormally thin models in the media, continue to emphasize the idea that "thin is beautiful" and many people only make things worse for adolescents and adults with borderline anorexia, bulimia or binge eating disorders.

For example, 40 per cent of the young adolescent girls want to be thinner. And 80 per cent of 10 year olds are concerned in case they become fat. In another survey, 70 percent of these young girls surveyed said that their concern about their weight, shape and diet started when they were aged only between 9 and 11 years. In a study of children aged 8-10, approximately 50 per cent of girls said they were unhappy with their size. In a study of girls aged 9-15, more than 50 per cent claimed they exercised to lose weight, nearly 50 per cent claimed they reduced food intake in order to lose weight, and approximately 5 per cent claimed to use their parents diet pills or laxatives in order to lose weight.

All these at the end of the day lead to diseases which are really harmful in the long run and lead to such problems like eating disorders.

• Felicia Byrnes
• 25/04/2009, 12:59 AM
• 0 Comments