Key Statistics

Research in the field of eating disorders is in its infancy. Statistics often vary and sometimes seem contradictory, reflecting the need for more work and larger studies upon which to base prevalence rates and other relevant information. The following statistics provide a current snapshot of eating disorders, body image and associated issues. 

Where possible we have tried to access Australian statistics. 

• Findings from a Victorian Adolescent cohort study revealed 8.8% of female adolescents had an eating disorder. Close to 50% of those had high levels of depression and anxiety, especially those with bulimia.[i]
• Eating disorders occur equally in males and females before puberty with the ratio increasing to approximately 1:10 during adolescence and 1:20 during young adulthood.[ii]
• Younger adolescents tend to present with Anorexia, while older adolescents may present with either Bulimia or Anorexia.[iii]
• Eating disorders can be considered to exist with in a spectrum, with 10-30% of patient’s crossing over between anorexic and bulimic tendencies during the course of their illness.[iv]
• Sufferers typically deny they have an eating disorder.[v]
• 1 in 20 Australian women admitted to having suffered from an eating disorder while 1 in 4 individuals know someone who has an eating disorder.[vi]
• 40% of people with anorexia nervosa are at risk of developing bulimia nervosa.[vii]
• 92% of people with bulimia said that seeking help was entirely their own choice whereas only 19% of people with anorexia agreed.[viii]

• Approximately one in 100 adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa.[ix] Anorexia Nervosa is the third most common chronic illness for adolescent girls in Australia (after obesity and asthma).[x]
• One in ten young adults and approximately 25% of children diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are male.[xi]
• The overall mortality rate for anorexia is 5 times that of the same aged population in general, with death from natural causes being 4 times greater (ie cardiac arrhythmia, infection etc) and deaths from unnatural causes 11 times greater. Risk of successful suicide is particularly high being 32 times that expected.[xii]
• The onset of anorexia usually occurs during adolescents with a median age of 17.[xiii]
• The average duration is 7 years. Those who recover are unlikely to return to normal health.[xiv]
• Many sufferers develop chronic social problems, which can escalate to the extent experienced by schizophrenic patients.[xv]
• Morbidity includes osteoporosis, anovulation, dysthymia, obsessive compulsive disorder, and social isolation.[xvi]
• Although 70% of patients regain weight within 6 months of onset of treatment, 15–25% of these relapse, usually within 2 years.[xvii]
• Follow-up studies suggest that under one-half have a good outcome (normal weight and eating and return of menses), a third intermediate and the remainder poor[xviii]. A one-in-five mortality rate at two decades follow-up indicates that patients chronically preoccupied with weight develop grave physical conditions[xix]. Indeed, the estimated mortality rate is 12 times that of similar aged women in the community and double that of women suffering other psychiatric disorders. Risk of suicide is high, being 1.5 times higher than for people with major depression[xx].

• The incidence of Bulimia Nervosa in the Australian population is 5 in 100. At least two studies have indicated that only about one tenth of the cases of bulimia in the community are detected.[xxi]
• It is common for people suffering from bulimia to keep their disorder hidden for 8-10 years, at great cost to their physical and psychological health.[xxii]
• 83% of bulimic patients vomit, 33% abuse laxatives, and 10% take diet pills.[xxiii]
• The mortality rate for bulimia nervosa is estimated to be up to 19%.[xxiv]
• 70% of individuals who undertake treatment for Bulimia Nervosa report a significant improvement in their symptoms.[xxv]
• People with bulimia may have had one or several suicide attempts and there is a high incidence of depression amongst bulimia sufferers.[xxvi]
• Bulimia can become a means of coping with stressful situations, such as an unhappy relationship or a traumatic past event.[xxvii]
• In 2002 the prevalence in young Australian women was said to be 3-6%[xxviii].
• Impulsivity and substance abuse is correlated with Bulimia[xxix]. 

• Binge Eating disorder is characterised by recurrent binge eating without using compensatory measures such as vomiting, laxative abuse or excessive exercise to counter the binge.[xxx]
• The prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder in the general population is estimated to be 4%.[xxxi] The incidence of Binge Eating Disorder in males and females is almost equal.[xxxii] 
• The disorder often develops in late adolescents and early 20’s[xxxiii]
• People with binge eating disorder are at risk of developing a variety if different medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, gallbladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.[xxxiv]
• Potential risk factors include obesity, being overweight as a child, strict dieting, and a history of depression, anxiety and low self esteem.[xxxv]

• The clinical diagnosis of eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) has been said to represent the most common diagnosis made in outpatient settings but the one most ignored by researchers because of its status as a ‘‘residual diagnosis’’ in the DSM-IV, or a disorder of clinical severity where the diagnostic criteria of bulimia nervosa (BN) or anorexia nervosa (AN) are not met. [xxxvi]

• Eating disorders may arise from a variety of different causes and while they sometimes begin with a preoccupation with food and weight they are often about much more than food.[xxxvii]

• Research has shown that the traditional dieting approach of restricting both calories and food types shows poor results in achieving long-term weight loss. Within five years, many dieters regain any weight they lose and often end up heavier than when they began. They also tend to develop very unhealthy attitudes towards food and to lose their natural ability to recognise when they are hungry or full.[xxxviii]
• Dieting is the greatest risk factor for the development of an eating disorder. 68% of 15 year old females are on a diet, of these, 8% are severely dieting. Adolescent girls who diet only moderately, are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who don’t diet, and those who diet severely are 18 time more likely to develop an eating disorder.[xxxix]
• Young Australian women who start dieting before the age of 15 are more likely to experience depression, binge eating, purging, and physical symptoms such as tiredness, low iron levels and menstrual irregularities.[xl] Women who diet frequently (more than 5 times) are 75% more likely to experience depression.[xli] 
• A Victorian study of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years classified 38% of girls and 12% of boys as "intermediate" to "extreme" dieters (i.e., at risk of an eating disorder).[xlii] A Sydney study of adolescents aged 11 to 15 reported that 16% of the girls and 7% of the boys had already employed at least one potentially dangerous method of weight reduction, including starvation, vomiting and laxative abuse.[xliii] 
• 31% of young women surveyed between 18 and 23 reported that at some time they had at least experimented with unhealthy eating behaviours including making themselves purge, deliberately abusing laxatives or diuretics, or fasting for at least 24 hours in order to lose weight.[xliv] 
• Dieting to control weight in adolescence is not only ineffective, it may actually promote weight gain A study of adolescents showed that after 3 years of follow-up, regular adolescent dieters gained more weight than non-dieters.[xlv] 
• Adolescent females who diet at a severe level are 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder than those who do not diet, and those who diet at a moderate level are five times more likely to develop an eating disorder. [xlvi]
• Around two thirds of new cases of eating disorder arise in females who have dieted moderately.[xlvii] 
• The predominance of eating disorders in females is largely explained by the higher rates of earlier dieting and psychiatric morbidity.[xlviii] 
• Daily exercise seems to be a less risky strategy for controlling weight in adolescents.[xlix]
• High frequency dieting and early onset of dieting are associated with poorer physical and mental health, more disordered eating, extreme body dissatisfaction, and more frequent general health problems.[l]

• The Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health, which included 14,686 women aged 18-23 years, revealed 66.5% had a BMI within a healthy weight range, however only 21.6% of these women were happy with their weight.[li]
• Low self esteem increases the chance of developing disordered eating.[lii]
• A recent survey of 600 Australian children found that increasingly, children are disturbed by the relentless pressure of marketing aimed at them. A large majority (88%) believed that companies tried to sell them things that they do not really need.[liii]
• A large number (41%) of children are specifically worried about the way they look with 35% concerned about being overweight (44% of girls and 27% of boys) and 16% being too skinny.[liv]
• A 2007 Sydney University study of nearly 9,000 adolescents showed one in five teenage girls starved themselves or vomit up their food to control their weight. Eight per cent of girls used smoking for weight control.[lv]
• A recent survey of 29,000 young Australians found Body Image was the most concerning issue for young people (32.3%)[lvi]
• The average child in the UK, US and Australia sees between 20,000 and 40,000 television advertisements per year. They are bombarded with images about how they should look and what they should own. Children struggle to keep up, suffering from anxiety, stress and lower satisfaction in themselves.[lvii] 

• A twin study published in the American Journal of psychiatry found that genetic factors have a significant influence on the development of Anorexia nervosa , with an estimated  hereditability of 58%[lviii]
• Adolescents with Anorexia are usually high achievers and are often involved in a number of extracurricular activities such as tutoring, volunteer work and community leadership, as the driven focus required to successfully maintain an eating disorder extends to other areas of their lives. They tend to be perfectionists, have internalizing coping styles and obsessive behaviors, often with co morbid mood symptoms such as depression and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCO).[lix]
• Patients with Bulimia have been described as having difficulties with impulse regulation.[lx]
• Anxiety disorders are significantly more frequent in people with eating disorders than the general community.[lxi]
• High levels of psychiatric morbidity in females increase the risk of developing eating disorders by sevenfold.[lxii]
• More than half of anorexia sufferers have been sexually abused or experienced some other major trauma.[lxiii]
• The family dynamics commonly seen in families of teenagers with Anorexia include conflict avoidance, undue degrees of enmeshment with either parent or rigid or overprotective parenting.[lxiv]