Anorexia Epidemiology

1.2 million Americans suffer from Anorexia and following the trend of the past 25 years this number will only continue to grow.  The vast majority of these people are women.  The male to female ratio for those suffering from anorexia is 1:20.  The main age group of people affected are between the ages of 15-19.  Forty percent of identified cases in females fell between this age group.  Anorexia is more common in western countries.  It more commonly affects white women who are of higher socioeconomic status.  Additionally those who participate in activities or professions that demand thinness (modeling, athletics) are at a higher risk for developing Anorexia.   A follow up study researched how well patients were recovering after treatment and found that only 50% of patients with anorexia recovered.  26% reported a poor outcome after treatment, and 21% reported an intermediate outcome.  The study also found Anorexia had a 9.8% mortality rate.  This is the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.  

The-Reality-of-Eating Disorders. (2013).  Retrieved from https://advocateglobalhealth.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/49p8c6-facts-statistics-465pxwide.jpg