Eating disorders
Who's affected byeating disorders?
A 2015 report commissioned by Beat estimates more than 725,000 peoplein the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Eating disorders tend to be more common in certain age groups, but they can affect people of any age.
Around 1in 250 women and 1 in 2,000 men will experience anorexia nervosa at some point. The condition usually develops around the age of 16 or 17.
Bulimia is around two to three times more common than anorexia nervosa, and 90% of people with the condition are female. It usually develops around the age of 18 or 19.
Binge eating affects males and females equally and usually appears later in life, between the ages of 30 and 40. As it's difficult to precisely define binge eating, it's not clear how widespread it is, but it's estimated to affect around 5% of the adult population.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about the different types of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating, as well as what causes them and the treatments available.
Types of eatingdisorders
Eating disorders include a range of conditions that can affect someone physically, psychologically and socially. The most common eating disorders are: Anorexia nervosa when a person tries to keep
What causes eating disorders?
Eating disorders are often blamed on the social pressure to be thin, as young people in particular feel they should look a certain way. However, the causes are usually more complex. An eating disorde
Do I have an eating disorder?
Doctors sometimes use a questionnaire to help identify people who may have an eating disorder. The questionnaire asks the following five questions: Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfo
Spotting an eating disorder in others
It can often be very difficult toidentify that a loved one or friend has developed an eating disorder. Warning signs to look out for include: missing meals complaining of being fat, even though th
Who's affected byeating disorders?
A 2015 report commissioned by Beat estimates more than 725,000 peoplein the UK are affected by an eating disorder. Eating disorders tend to be more common in certain age groups, but they can affect pe
Treating eating disorders
Ifan eating disorder isn'ttreated, it can have a negative impact on someone's job or schoolwork, and can disrupt relationships with family members and friends. The physical effects of an eating disord
Subscribe
Ask the doctor
Rate this article
Find products