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Eating Disorder Statistics

Over one person's lifetime, at least 50,000 individuals will die as a direct result of their eating disorder. Without treatment, up to twenty percent (20%) of people with serious eating disorders die. With treatment, that number falls to two to three percent (2-3%). Eating Disorders affect a large number of people in the United States.

The statistics state that:

* Approximately 7 million girls and women struggle with eating disorders
* Approximately 1 million boys and men struggle with eating disorders

Amount of people affected by specific eating disorders:

* 0.5% - 3.7% of females suffer from Anorexia Nervosa in their lifetime
* 1.1% - 4.2% of females suffer from Bulimia Nervosa in their lifetime
* 2% - 5% of the American population experience Binge Eating Disorder
* 10%-25% of all those battling anorexia will die as a direct result of the eating disorder
* Up to 19% of college aged women in America are bulimic Age at onset of an eating disorder:
* 10% report onset at 10 years or younger
* 33% report onset between ages of 11-15
* 43% report onset between ages of 16-20
* 86% report onset of illness by the age of 20

College
* As many as 10% of college women suffer from a clinical or nearly clinical eating disorder, including 5.1% who suffer from bulimia nervosa
* Studies indicate that by their first year of college, 4.5 to 18% of women and 0.4% of men have a history of bulimia and that as many as 1% of females between the ages of 12 and 18 have anorexia

With treatment, about sixty percent (60%) of people with eating disorders recover. In spite of treatment, about twenty percent (20%) of people with eating disorders make only partial recoveries. The remaining twenty percent (20%) do not improve, even with treatment.

Source: The National Institute of Mental Health, National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders

Additional Resources:

Assessing Readiness and Motivation for Change: Challenges and Practical Advice
Athletes and Eating Disorders: Some Ramifications of the NCAA Study, An Interview with Dr. Pauline Powers
Basic Facts About Eating Disorders
Betwixt and Be'Tween: Puberty and Body Image
Big Fat Lies