Eating Disorder Statistics

Living beings survive on food and it is an essential part of the daily need of the mankind. And yet many of us suffer from eating disorders. The worst part is that young people and adolescents are the victims of the phenomenon. Most statistics say that eating disorders are very common, especially among female adolescents.

Researchers estimate that about one percent (1%) of the female adolescents suffer from anorexia. This would mean that about one out of every one hundred young women between ten and twenty are suffering from Anorexia Nervosa. The reason for anorexia is because these young people are often eating less. This can some times lead to death. And it is now all the more common.

As per a research study about four percent (4%), or four out of one hundred, college-aged women have bulimia. 50% of the people who suffer from anorexia, develop bulimia or bulimic patterns. The statistics of such people who suffer from bulimia is difficult to ascertain because these people are secretive and do not reveal their problem. The same is the case for older people who suffer from bulimia. It is rare in case of children.

For the males with signs of eating disorder the statistics says that about 10% of those people suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The difference may be because the expectation for women in our society is different than for men. Women are expected to look slim and beautiful and this has led to many women falling prey to Anorexia and this may sometimes lead to Bulimia.
A
nother research study at Harvard University Medical School suggests that up to 25 percent of adults with eating disorders are male. The emergence of the new figures is very different from previous research. As per the new facts and figures, men are becoming more prone to eating disordered. It could be also that new technology has improved the diagnostic tools and are now catching people who would have escaped detection before. Also, it is now evident that men are now more concerned about their looks and give serious attention to their appearance and body image. The new study was based on information obtained from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a mental health survey of nearly 9,000 adults across the U.S.
By Max Suther