How Common are Eating Disorders?

An estimated 1.25 million people live with an eating disorder in the UK. Eating disorders are specific mental health conditions that primarily impact an individual’s relationship with food. With that being said, it is important to remember that eating disorders are complex conditions that are formed from a constellation of symptoms. These symptoms relate to mood, thought patterns, and particular behaviours that impact areas of life that are not directly associated with eating.

There are lots of myths and stereotypes around these types of conditions. Eating disorders are not about being fussy or ungrateful. They are also not lifestyle choices – they are psychiatric conditions that are ‘unlikely to resolve without specialist treatment and support.’ Eating disorders are also experienced by all people, regardless of individual characteristics and background.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are thought to be some of the deadliest mental health conditions to experience. This is because they are very embodied conditions that literally impact our bodies in extremely drastic ways.

What are they?

A large misconception about eating disorders is that they are experienced by very thin individuals. Whilst some individuals with eating disorders live at a very low body weight, it is possible to experience an eating disorder in any shape. Eating disorders affect more than just shape and size – they are pervasive conditions strongly associated with dangerous thinking and harmful patterns of behaviour around food.

Eating disorder charity Beat UK describe eating disorders as:

‘serious mental illnesses affecting people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds.’

They go on to explain that disordered eating:

• Is associated with a range of harmful eating acts,
• Affects emotions and thoughts as well as behaviours,
• ‘Is not the fault of the person experiencing it’

The types of eating disorder

There are many stereotypes around eating disorders. In reality, these conditions can differ widely from one another and are far from the hegemonic experiences media may have us believe.

There are many diagnosable eating disorders. These are:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Avoidant restrictive intake disorder (ARFID)
• Binge eating disorder (BED)
• Bulimia nervosa
• Orthorexia
• Pica
• Rumination disorder
• Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

Anorexia nervosa

Anorexia is a restrictive condition. People with anorexia may severely limit their intake of food and drink. This food avoidance is sometimes paired with excessive exercise to drive weight loss. It is linked with ‘distorted body image’ and using ‘eating habits to cope with stress, anxiety and low self-esteem.’

Avoidant restrictive intake disorder (ARFID)

ARFID was previously known as selective eating disorder. It is defined by a person’s:

• Avoidance of certain foods (or food groups)
• Eating in small amounts

ARFID is present when these eating routines are not related to financial, access or cultural reasons.

Binge eating disorder (BED)

BED is diagnosed when a person engages in ‘regular binge-eating episodes during which individuals ingest comparably large amounts of food and experience loss of control over their eating behaviour.’

Bulimia nervosa

Bulimia plays out through cycles of two key eating behaviours:

• Binge eating
• Purging

Bingeing is related to loss of control and eating very large quantities. Purging occurs when food is emptied from the body forcefully. This is often achieved through self-induced vomiting or using laxatives.

Orthorexia

Orthorexia hinges specifically on the avoidance of foods that are not perceived as ‘clean.’ Eating habits tend towards ‘healthy’ and ‘organic’ foods with large restrictions on food groups that are not seen as ‘pure.’

Pica

People with pica experience consistent cravings for items that have no nutritional value. This often leads to the consumption of non-edible objects.

Substances commonly consumed include:

• Chalk
• Soap
• Paint
• Paper
• Fabric
• Sand

This disorder is usually linked with childhood but can also be experienced by adults.

Rumination disorder

Rumination disorder is when an individual will routinely regurgitate partly digested food. This is typically an involuntary response to eating.

Other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED)

A diagnosis of OSFED is given when disordered eating symptoms are present but do not fit the clinical criteria of other conditions. For this reason, it often blends symptoms from various eating disorders together.

 

How common are they?

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly how common eating disorders are. This is because a lot of the data we have that focuses on the number of people in treatment or are pure estimations. Whilst this data is a positive starting point, we can confidently infer that the true number of people living with eating disorders is higher than the data suggests.

Demographics

Eating disorders are experienced by all genders, with 25% of all cases affecting men.

Whilst disordered eating is typically associated with teenagers, eating disorders have been known to manifest anywhere from age 6 to age mid 70s.

Current research suggests that out of eating disorder cases,

• 8% have anorexia
• 5% have ARFID
• 19% have bulimia
• 22% have binge eating disorder
• 47% have OSFED

1.1% of adults are thought to live with Pica.

1in 125 are thought to experience rumination syndrome.

Contributing factors

It is often not very easy to identify one key event that catalyses an eating disorder. More realistically, these types of conditions are developed over time in response to a range of different events and experiences.

Personality type

Studies have indicated that people with a ‘perfectionist’ personality type are more likely to develop an eating disorder. This can be linked to social and personal pressure, as well as a tendency towards a need for control.

Trauma

Disordered eating behaviours can be linked with trauma experiences, especially childhood trauma. The following experiences can therefore increase the likelihood of an eating disorder developing:

• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse
• Verbal abuse
• Domestic abuse

Specific pressures

Researchers have identified ‘strong and consistent evidence that eating disorders are prevalent in sport.’ This had led to the association of conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder with athletic and aesthetic sports. Whilst this link is well-founded, we can sometimes forget to consider the impact that other less distinguished factors can have in the development of these conditions.

Eating disorders can be attached to a range of specific pressures, such as:

• Early exposure to diet culture
• Frequent comments about appearance
• Childhood bullying
• Social media
• Social beauty standards

Individuals with a family history of eating disorders are at increased risk of developing clinically significant eating behaviours.

Dual diagnosis

Frequently, individuals with eating disorders also live with another condition. This is known as a dual diagnosis. Conditions that are commonly comorbid with eating disorders are:

• Anxiety
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder
• Depression
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Personality disorders
• Posttraumatic stress disorder
• Substance use disorders

Get help

Here at UKAT, we know that eating disorders are complex conditions. But that does not mean that you must live with it forever. We can help you to take the steps towards a happier and healthier future.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation with a member of our team. We are here to lend a listening, non-judgmental ear and guide you through potential options for specialist, holistic addiction and mental health support. We can talk you through the bespoke packages we offer to identify the most appropriate treatment for you.