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  • 2.1: Eating Disorders
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Statistics

Did you know...

 

The annual death rate associated with anorexia is more than 12 times higher than the annual death rate due to all other causes combined for females between 15 and 24 years old.

 

Cavanaugh, Carolyn. What we know about eating disorders: facts and statistics. In Lemberg, Raymond and Cohn, Leigh (Eds) (1999). Eating Disorders: A reference sourcebook. Oryx Press. Phoenix, AZ

 

95% of all dieters regain their lost weight within one to five years.

 

Grodstein, F., Levine R., Troy L., Spender T., Colditz G.A., Stampfer M.J. Three-year follow-up of participants in a commercial weight loss program. Can you keep it off? Arch Intern med. 1996; 156:1302-1306

 

Statistics for Waterloo Region

 

2000 projections for Waterloo Region (females only): (Ontario Ministry of Health Provincial Planning Database) Predicted eating disorder cases and beds needed for those age 10-19: Anorexia: 305 - 915 (1% - 3%) Bulimia: 3,049 (10%)

 

Statistics for Ontario

 

The Eating Disorder Program at Sick Children's Hospital, Toronto has children as young as 5 years old being admitted to their program.

 

27% of Ontario girls 12-18 years old were reported to be engaged in severely problematic food and weight behaviour.  Canadian Medical Association Journal 2001;165(5) 547-52.

 

A significant amount of both male (25%) and female (30%) children, as young as 10-14 years, are dieting to lose weight, despite being within a healthy weight range.  (McVey, Pepler, Davis, Flett & Abdolell, 2002; McVey, Tweed & Blackmore, 2004; McVey, Tween & Blackmore, 2005).

 

More National Statistics

 

Eating disorders are now the third most common chronic illness in adolescent girls. Adolescent Medicine Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society. Eating Disorders in adolescents: principles of diagnosis and treatment. Paediatrics and Child Health 1998; 3(3) 189-92. Reaffirmed January 2001.

 

Among female athletes, the prevalence of eating disorders is reported to be between 15% and 62%. Costin, Carolyn. (1999) The Eating Disorder Source Book: A comprehensive guide to the causes, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders. 2nd edition. Lowell House: Los Angeles.

 

For more statistics relating to eating disorders, dieting and attitudes in Canada, please see the Statistics section under Know the Facts on the National Eating Disorders Information Website: www.nedic.ca

 

 

 

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