Eating Disorder Statistics & Trends 

Regardless, learning more about eating disorder statistics and trends can help you understand how widespread—and underreported—these issues can be and possibly help you or a loved one get the treatment you deserve.

Eating Disorder Statistics: Issues to Consider

Statistics can be helpful sources of information, but they don’t always tell the full story. Rather, they help point out trends or fill in the bigger picture of what’s going on. When it comes to eating disorders, there are several reasons why the statistics we have may not fully explain the situation. 

First, there is no official authority keeping track of these cases. Eating disorder statistics are often assembled piecemeal, combining information from various studies that use various metrics, measurements, or definitions about what constitutes sickness or recovery.

Second is the scope of these studies. For a majority of the time eating disorders have been examined, researchers have focused almost exclusively on how they impact young, white females. This can skew numbers or ignore trends or eating disorder prevalence in other groups of people. And many people choose to never disclose their disordered eating behavior at all, making accurate numbers impossible to determine.

Still, researchers do their best to account for these issues, coming up with the best estimates they can make on the prevalence of eating disorders and related trends.

Eating Disorder Trends

“Trends” in statistics represent patterns found among the information. It could signify a trend when numbers are consistently going up or down. For eating disorders, the most significant recent trend comes from a 2021 study that showed a worldwide jump in eating disorder cases.

These numbers bear out anecdotally, as well. Almost half of all Americans in one poll reported knowing someone with an eating disorder.³ 

All told, about 9% of Americans—28.8 million people—will struggle with disordered eating behaviors at some point in their lives, according to a study done by Harvard’s School of Public Health.¹

Anorexia Statistics

Anorexia nervosa—a condition revolving around severely limited food intake—was one of the first medically identified eating disorders. As such, it has been studied for some time. 

Some statistics compiled through these studies include:^3,4

• Up to 0.4% of young women and 0.1% of young men in the United States are struggling with AN.
• AN is one of the most common adolescent eating disorders, and the third-most common chronic illness among adolescents.
• As many as 20% of people with AN die early from complications of the condition, including suicide and heart problems.

While many factors can contribute to the development of this eating disorder, co-occurring mental disorders often play a role. For example, 20% of women with anorexia also express traits of autism.⁵ Depression and anxiety are other commonly occurring co-diagnoses.

Bulimia Statistics

People with bulimia nervosa bounce between two dangerous eating disorder symptoms: binge eating episodes and episodes of purging. 

It’s estimated that:^4,6,7

• 0.3% of the U.S. population struggles with bulimia nervosa.
• Women are five times more likely to experience BN than men.
• Black teenagers are 50% more likely than white teens to binge eat and purge.

Still, not all the numbers are quite as bleak. While bulimia nervosa rates increased during the 1980s and early 1990s, the number has mostly flattened out since then or even slightly dipped, according to some studies.⁴ 

Binge Eating Disorder Statistics

Similar to those with bulimia nervosa, people with binge eating disorder will frequently eat large amounts of food in short periods of time. But unlike those with BN, people with BED don’t use compensatory behaviors afterwards. 

According to recent binge eating disorder statistics, the condition is:⁴

• Currently, the most common eating disorder in the United States
• Experienced by 3.5% of women and 2% of men.

All told, binge eating disorder is estimated to be three times more common than anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa combined.⁴ BED is also one of the most recently recognized eating disorders, and it’s likely that there are actually many more instances of BED than the cases of binge eating disorder reported.

Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder Statistics

While eating disorders like BED, BN, and AN have specific medical definitions, there are many other eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors that don’t quite meet these criteria. These behaviors are often categorized as other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFED). 

For years, OSFED—previously called eating disorder not otherwise specified, or EDNOS—was considered a more “mild” form of an eating disorder. Now, doctors know these disordered eating behaviors can still present serious issues.

Sadly, people with OSFED have been found just as likely to die from complications of their eating disorder as people with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa.⁸ And the condition is not uncommon. In one study, OSFED was found to be the second-most-prevalent eating disorder diagnosis, after binge eating disorder.⁹

Statistics on Eating Disorder Treatment 

Less encouraging are the statistics on how many people with these conditions get the help they need. Studies have found that:^1,5,6

• About one-third of people with AN sought treatment for their condition between 2001 and 2004.
• Roughly 43% of people with binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa sought care for their condition between 2001 and 2004.
• Athletes are less likely to seek help for an eating disorder (despite struggling with these conditions at higher rates).
• People of color are half as likely to receive an eating disorder diagnosis or treatment.
• People in larger bodies are about half as likely as those in smaller bodies to be diagnosed with an eating disorder.

All told, researchers say only 1 out of every 10 people with eating disorders gets treatment.³

Finding Help for Eating Disorders

Thankfully, one thing all eating disorders have in common is that they are treatable. A combination of psychotherapy, medical interventions, nutritional counseling and education, and some types of medication has been found to help someone stop using disordered behaviors and recover their mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

If you or a loved one is struggling with disordered eating behavior, you can start by reaching out to your primary care physician or therapist. These healthcare professionals can listen to your concerns and help give you the right diagnosis or find the best possible treatment program. 

If you’re worried about talking with your doctor, ask a family member or trusted friend to go with you to the appointment. Added support could help you feel more comfortable speaking freely about your eating disorder and the life you want to lead. 

This person can also offer you ongoing support as you begin your journey in treatment and recovery. But the most important thing to remember is that treatment and recovery are always possible.