FACTS

Between 1.25 and 3.4 Million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder:-

• 25% of sufferers are men. It is believed that 33% of males have used unhealthy behaviours in an attempt to alter their weight
• Most eating disorders develop during adolescence, although there are cases of eating disorders developing in children as young as 6 and in adults in their 70s
• Eating disorders are most common in people between the ages of 16 and 40 years old
• Around 10% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from anorexia nervosa. Approx only 6% of those with an eating disorder are underweight
• The average age of onset for anorexia nervosa is 16 to 17 years old
• 40% of people affected by an eating disorder suffer from bulimia nervosa
• The average age of onset for bulimia nervosa is 18 to 19 years old
• The rest of sufferers fall into the BED or OSFED categories of eating disorders
• Research suggests that people who have family members with eating disorders are more likely to develop eating disorders themselves when compared to people who have no family history of these illnesses
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates among psychiatric disorders
• Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder in adolescence
• The earlier someone gets eating disorder treatment, the better their chance of recovery
• A disproportionate number are below the age of 25

These UK eating disorder statistics have been collated from data published by Beat, and Anorexia and Bulimia Care.