Review of the Epidemiological Studies of Eating Disorders

This paper reviews the incidence and prevalence studies of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. The incidence of anorexia nervosa has been estimated at 8.1 and of bulimia nervosa at 11.4 per 100,000 population per year. The registered incidence rates of anorexia nervosa have increased sharply, but it is still unclear whether the rates in the community have increased. It has been established, however, that the incidence rates of anorexia nervosa in females 15 to 24-years-old—the most vulnerable group—have increased during the past 50 years. The (point-)prevalence among young females is 0.28% for anorexia nervosa and 1% for bulimia nervosa. A model of the pathway to care is described to show the one-year prevalence rates at different levels of care. The role of social and cultural factors will be discussed.