Eating Disorder Statistics – The Priory

The following statistics are from The Priory Hospital Group. Research suggests that:

• Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder and 25% of them are male.
• Most eating disorder develop in adolescence but there are cases of children as young as 3/4 being diagnosed or adults in their 70s developing one.
• Around 10% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from anorexia nervosa and the average age of onset is 16 to 17 years old.
• 40% of people affected have bulimia nervosa with the average age of onset being 18 to 19 years old.
• The rest of sufferers fall into the binge eating disorder (BED) or other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED).
• It is thought that people who have family members with eating disorders are more likely to develop one themselves compared to people who have no family history of an eating disorder.
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders.
• The earlier someone gets treatment, the better their chances of recovery.

Eating Disorder Statistics – BEAT

The following statistics are from the UK’s Eating Disorder charity, BEAT.

• Research from the NHS information centre showed that up to 6.4% of adults displayed signs of an eating disorder.
• There has been a drastic rise in the number of hospital admissions for eating disorders. It seems to rise around 7% a year.
• A 2017 study by Hay et al found that anorexia accounted for 8% of cases, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) for 5%, binge eating disorder (BED) for 22%, bulimia for 22% and OSFED accounted for 47% of cases.
• Research carried out in Australia suggests that the average duration of anorexia is 8 years and 5 years for bulimia. However, they can become severe and enduring, lasting for many years – though this does NOT mean that recovery is not possible.
• It is thought that around 46% of anorexia patients fully recovery, 33% improve, and 20% remain chronically ill. With bulimia, 45% make a full recovery, 27% improve substantially, and 23% suffer chronically.

Eating Disorder Statistics – Eating Disorder Recovery Center (USA)

• 9% of the US population will have an eating disorder in their lifetime and one death every 52 minutes is the direct result of an eating disorder.
• Less than 6% of people with an eating disorder are underweight.
• Between 9-24% of people in eating disorder treatment also have PTSD which likely leads to more severe eating disorder symptoms.
• 13% of women over the age of 50 have eating disorder symptoms.
• Around 3.6% of men on college campuses have an eating disorder.
• In less than a decade the rate of children under the age of 12 being admitted to hospital for an eating disorder rose 119%.
• Approximately 6-8% of teenagers have an eating disorder.

The most important thing to remember is that recovery is possible and that, no matter what symptoms you are experiencing, you are worthy of support and treatment – don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help!

All my love,

Anna x