A study to be published in the Archives of General Psychiatry has some good news and some bad news with regard to the incidence common eating disorders, anorexia, bulimia and binge eating. Since 1990 the rate of anorexia has remained stable. Bulimia and binge eating, however, have almost doubled, according to the research available online yesterday.
Sonja A. Swanson of the National Institute of Mental Health reviewed data from a sample of about 10,000 adolescents ages 13-18. During the study they also conducted interviews with the teens.
The researchers found that prevalence rates are 0.3 percent for anorexia nervosa, 0.9 percent for bulimia nervosa and 1.6 percent for binge-eating disorder. These statistics are relatively low according to the researchers. It is not clear why the rates of anorexia have remained stable while bulimia and binge eating have increased so significantly. It may be that the stigma associated with bulimia and binge eating is remitting somewhat, allowing more teens to be disclosing about these symptoms.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders the prevalence of eating disorders is higher in industrialized societies in which food is abundant and attractiveness is linked to thinness. These disorders are most common in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan and South Africa. Immigrants in cultures where the disorder is relatively rare and who emigrate to these countries are at risk of developing eating disorders as they assimilate to these cultures and thin-body ideals.
Eating disorders generally begin in puberty. Pre-pubertal individuals who develop eating disorders may have more severe disturbances.
The current research notes that the severity and effects of eating disorders are higher than other psychological disorders, and include medical complications, other illnesses, death and suicide. Eating disorders are also associated with other psychiatric disorders.
Another finding of the study was that 19.6 percent of those with anorexia reported severe social impairment. The researchers also found that extreme despair, including suicidal thoughts were associated with all categories of eating disorders.
Among the adolescents studied, most sought some form of treatment but only a small percentage received treatment specifically for their eating disorder. This speaks to the need to continue to increase access to care and programs that can support those affected by eating disorders.
A complete version of this study will be available in the July issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Philadelphia area programs:
Belmont Center
Brandywine Center
Renfrew Center
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