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Epidemiology

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Halmi (1) has defined epidemiological characteristics for anorexia nervosa (1):

  • confined to "Westernised" countries, and largely to Caucasians within these countries
  • females are affected ten to twenty times more often than males
  • largely restricted to adolescents and young adults
  • now less of a middle class bias
  • prevalence of about 1 in 100 in teenage girls
  • about 8% of ballet dancers
  • probably more common in the last 20 years
  • the problem may be increasing in children and adolescents

With respect to eating disorders per se (2):

Using figures for UK hospital admissions from 2012 to 2013, the eating disorders charity BEAT estimated that there were over 725,000 people with an eating disorder in the UK, approximately 90% of whom were female

  • however, recent community-based epidemiological studies suggest that as many as 25% of people with an eating disorder are male
  • eating disorders most commonly start in adolescence, but can also start during childhood or adulthood
  • about 15% of people with an eating disorder have anorexia nervosa, which is also more common in younger people
  • most people with an eating disorder meet diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, or other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED). Each disorder is associated with poor quality of life, social isolation, and a substantial impact for family members and carers
  • eating disorders are longlasting conditions if they are not treated

Reference:

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