Eating disorders in the US: 6 numbers to know

Eating disorders are the second-deadliest mental illness, with opioid addiction being the most deadly, according to data from the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders. 

Advertisement

Common eating disorders include binge eating disorder, bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Approximately 9 percent of Americans, or 28.8 million people, will experience an eating disorder in their lifetime, according to the organization. 

 Here are five more statistics about eating disorders in the U.S.: 

1. Eating disorders affect at least 9 percent of the population worldwide.

2. Less than 6 percent of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as underweight.

3. There are 10,200 eating disorder-related deaths each year.

4. Approximately 26 percent of people with eating disorders attempt suicide.

5. The annual economic cost associated with eating disorders is $64.7 billion.

Advertisement

Next Up in Mental Health

  • Transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation are reshaping how clinicians treat complex mood and neuropsychiatric disorders.

  • New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health held a grand opening for its $5 million, 12,000-square-foot Behavioral Health Wellness Center in…

Advertisement

Comments are closed.