Sound epidemiological data are difficult to obtain, but the best available information indicates that the incidence of AN (number of new diagnoses per year) has not changed substantially in the past three decades (1)
Halmi defined epidemiological characteristics for anorexia nervosa (2):
- 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. (3):
The proportion of 11 to 16-year-olds with an eating disorder increased from 0.5% in 2017 to 2.6% in 2023.
Rates were higher among 17 to 19-year-olds, rising from 0.8% in 2017 to 12.5% in 2023.
5.9% of young people aged 20 to 25 were found to have an eating disorder.
The lifetime prevalence in women is reported to be between 2-4%. (4)
Incidence rates vary from 4.2-12.6 per 100,000 person-years for females to 1 per 100,000 person-years for males.
Overall incidence rates are around 6.0 per 100 000 population with highest incidence in people aged 15-19 years.
- 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 long lasting conditions if they are not treated
References
- Demmler JC, Brophy ST, Marchant A, et al. Shining the light on eating disorders, incidence, prognosis and profiling of patients in primary and secondary care: national data linkage study. Br J Psychiatry. 2020 Feb;216(2):105-12.
- Halmi KA. Anorexia nervosa: an increasing problem in children and adolescents. Dial Clin Neurosci. 2009;11(1):100-3.
- NHS Digital. Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2022 - wave 3 follow up to the 2017 survey. Published November 2022
- NICE. Eating disorders: recognition and treatment. NICE guideline NG69. Published May 2017, last updated December 2020