Several noteworthy anorexia statistics are provided below.
- Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents
- The average age of onset for an eating disorder is 11-13 years old
- 5-10 million women and girls suffer from anorexia and/or bulimia in the United States
- Approximately one million men and boys suffer from anorexia and/or bulimia in the United States
- 86% of people with eating disorders report that the onset occurred before they reached the age of 20
- Approximately 80% of women would like to lose weight
- 50% of girls between the ages of 13 and 15 believe that they are overweight
- 80% of 13 year old girls have dieted or attempted to lose weight
- 20% of individuals who suffer from anorexia and do not receive treatment will die
- The mortality rate due to anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate for all other causes of death in females from 15 to 24 years old
- Anorexia Nervosa has the highest death rate of any mental illness
- Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorder will receive treatment
- 1-5% of female adolescents and young women are anorexic
What We Learn from Anorexia Statistics
Anorexia statistics can be used to provide important information for eating disorder specialists in order to determine possible causes and risk factors, warning signs, and the best treatment methods for anorexia. With this information, eating disorder treatment facilities such as McCallum Place, an eating disorder treatment center in St. Louis offering inpatient, day treatment, and outpatient eating disorder treatment programs, are able to better diagnose and treat clients suffering from eating disorders, including anorexia.
