Eating Disorder Facts


Many eating disorder facts exist.
First among these facts is that there are 3 major eating disorders:

  • Anorexia, also called Anorexia Nervosa
  • Binge
  • Bulimia, also called Bulimia Nervosa

While each of them is dangerous to trifle with, none is infectious, and none is contagious.
They are rather eating lifestyles which you make a choice for or say, “No”, to.
While eating disorders don’t care about gender, girls and women are mostly
affected. Men are also affected but to a lesser degree.
Below are more eating disorder facts but please, note these are important facts
but not an exhaustive list.

  • More females suffer from eating disorders than men. Up to 90% of sufferers are females.
  • In the US for example, over 7 million women yearly suffer from eating disorders.
  • Only an estimated 5 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male
  • An estimated 0.5 to 3.7 percent of women suffer from anorexia nervosa in their lifetime
  • Over 80% of female students in colleges have meddled with one or more eating disorder types.
  • Mortality rate of eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa is high.
  • Eating disorders result mainly from thinking about and using foods in ways that are destructive both emotionally and physically. For example, an anorexic sees food as the source of her image problems. She eats little or nothing in order to be as thin as the latest models.
  • Complications and poor anorexia crisis-management or treatment result in death
  • 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
  • Treating eating disorders in the US is costly and could range from $500-$2000 per day.
  • Recovery is possible but may take time. But your determination and choice to come out completely are important.
  • 90% of people who have eating disorder challenges fall between the ages of 12 and 25.
  • It’s surprising but true that even 5-7 year old girls have been found to be concerned about their weight.
  • 40-60% of high school girls diet
  • 30-40% of junior high girls worry about weight.
  • 13% of high school girls purge, as in bulimia practice
  • Male wrestlers are 7-10% more likely to go into bulimia than other men
  • Female athletes in aesthetic sports (example,  gymnastics, ballet, figure skating) have been found to be at the highest risk for eating disorders

Risky Effects Of Eating Disorders

  • Obesity
  • Slow and irregular heart beats
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney problems
  • Lanugo: fine hairs develop all over body
  • Osteoporosis
  • Cavities in teeth
  • Amenorrhea
  • Constipation
  • Bowel Irritation
  • Laxative dependency
  • Low immunity
  • Atrophy of muscles
  • Low productivity
  • Death

Sources: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Eating Disorders Coalition
http://www.anad.org
                             
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