Eating disorders, which include anorexia, bulimia and binge eating have been steadily and worryingly growing over the last three decades.
There are various statistics available, but they must be looked at with caution as there are certain limitations. Different researches have used different criteria which makes it difficult to integrate the information.
Also a characteristic of an eating disorder is that there is a feeling of shame (in purging for example) as well as secretiveness involved. This means that disclosure is limited.
Another factor is that the eating disorder has to be diagnosed as such, and there are many people suffering from an eating disorder who are not undergoing treatment or are in denial, or even unaware of their condition.
What is known is that eating disorders have been on the increase and include not only adolescent girls, but younger children (both boys and girls). They also include men, and women over twenty (in a few cases over seventy).
Women from the baby boomer generation can also be at risk as they have grown up with strong image consciousness.
Eating disorder problems are present in different cultural situations, in different age groups and in both genders. Typically it has been identified at a higher rate in western society, but the number of cases are also growing in other cultures.
It is estimated that in the US:
- 7 million women suffer from an eating disorder
- 1 million men suffer from an eating disorder
- 1% of female adolescents have anorexia
- Risk of an eating disorder in women is roughly 3 times greater
- One in four preadolescent cases of anorexia occurs in boys
- Binge-eating disorder affects females and males about equally
- About 10% of bulimia and anorexia sufferers are male
- About 20% of people with eating disorders who receive no treatment, die
- This statistic is drastically reduced to 2-3% with treatment.
These figures reflect estimates and not specific statistics for various reasons, but at least two things are worth highlighting:
- Eating disorders are costing lives.
- Treatment definitely reduces mortality.
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Tags: anorexia, bulimia, Eating Disorders
Tags: anorexia, bulimia, Eating Disorders
