Eating Disorders Statistics (US)
According to the first nationally representative study of eating disorders in the United States, which appeared in the February 2007 edition of Biological Psychiatry, an estimated 0.6 to 4.5 percent of individuals suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime.
Here are some eating disorders statistics from other various US organisations, which were all obtained from their corresponding websites:
The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness:
At least 50,000 individuals will die as a direct result of their eating disorder.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
More than 90 percent of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25.
National Eating Disorders Association:
Most people with severe eating disorders do not receive sufficient care.
Up to 10 million females and 1 million males struggle with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Binge eating disorder is experienced by millions more.
Eating Disorders, the Journal of Treatment and Prevention:
An estimated 19 to 30 percent of college females are diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Between 1 and 5 percent of adolescent women meet the criteria for an eating disorder diagnosis.
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) develop in 4 to 6 percent of the general population.
Fifty percent of individuals who present for treatment of an eating disorder receive the diagnosis of EDNOS.
The Renfrew Center Foundation:
Up to 24 million people in the United States experience an eating disorder.
Nearly 50 percent of Americans know someone with an eating disorder.
Fifteen percent of young women in the United States show considerable disordered eating attitudes and behaviours.
Only 10 percent of men and women with eating disorders obtain treatment.
Just 35 percent of people with eating disorders that receive treatment do so from a specialist eating disorder treatment centre.
Roughly 80 percent of females who receive treatment for their eating disorder do not get the intensity of treatment needed in order to stay in recovery.
Patients released from treatment while their weight is still below 85 percent of what is considered normal, have a relapse rate of 50 percent.
Nearly half of people with eating disorders meet the criteria for depression.
Young women with type 1 diabetes have a higher incidence of eating disorders than young women in the general population.
Approximately 72 percent of alcoholic women below 30 years of age have an eating disorder.
National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders:
86 percent of people report the onset of their eating disorder by the age of 20.
10 percent of people report the onset of their eating disorder at 10 years or younger.
33 percent of people report the onset of their eating disorder between the ages of 11-15.
43 percent of people report the onset of their eating disorder between the ages of 16-20.
77 percent of people report the duration of their eating disorder from one to fifteen years.
30 percent of people report the duration of their eating disorder from one to five years.
31 percent of people report the duration of their eating disorder from six to ten years.
16 percent of people report the duration of their eating disorder from eleven to fifteen years.
Only 50 percent of people report being cured.
