• More than 5 million Americans experience eating disorders.  (3)
  
  
• Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder are real, treatable illnesses that take on a life of their own. (22)
  
  
• About 90% of individuals with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (18) and about 60% of those with binge eating disorder (26) are female.
  
  
• A young woman with anorexia is 12 times more likely to die than other women her age without anorexia.  (19)
  
  
• Thirteen percent of young women have substantially disordered eating behaviors.  (24)
  
  
• Between 10% and 15% of those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa are men.  (2)
  
  
• Thirty-seven percent of fourth graders report that they have dieted to lose weight during the past year and 30% report that they are currently dieting.  (6)
  
  
• About half of those with anorexia or bulimia have a full recovery, 30% have a partial recovery, and 20% have no substantial improvement.  (20,27)

Findings

• A recent study of seventh and tenth graders revealed a decrease in body satisfaction and an increase in depression associated with viewing magazine images of idealized females. (12)
  
  
• In a study of almost 5,000 adolescents, researchers found a significant association between weight-teasing and disordered eating behaviors among overweight and non-overweight girls and boys. (23)
  
  
• In a study of 220 women treated for bulimia with either cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy, early change in the frequency of purging was the best predictor of response to treatment. (13)
  
  
• Females who participate in elite competitive sports, such as figure-skating, gymnastics, dance and crew, in which body shape and size are a factor in performance, are at higher risk for developing eating disorders than females who do not participate in such sports. Males who participate in these sports or in wrestling are also at increased risk.(29)

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