Here are some different facts and statistics on eating disorders that will give you a broad overview of the problem:
1. While women overwhelmingly make up those struggling with eating disorders, it’s estimated that 5% to 15% of those with anorexia or bulimia are male. When it comes to binge eating, 35% of those affected are men.
2. Therapists have seen a threefold increase in eating disorders among males (Jargon, 2021), and some now estimate that as many as 1 in 7 males will experience an eating disorder by age 40. (Tauber, 2021)
3. It’s estimated that 13% of women will experience a diagnosable eating disorder during their lifetime. (Stice et al., 2013)
Anorexia facts & statistics
1. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, roughly 1 in 25 women will become anorexic at some point in their lifetime.
2. Some estimates are that only 30% of people with anorexia nervosa fully recover.
3. As many as 1 in 10 individuals with anorexia will eventually die of complications related to the disease, whether that be health complications or suicide.
4. Around 70 women in the U.S. die from the disease each year.
Bulimia facts & statistics
1. Roughly 1 in every 25 women will become bulimic at some point during their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
See also…