Eating Disorders

Eating disorders; anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating, affect 8% of the population and are on the rise. No one know exactly what causes eating disorders, however, all socioeconomic classes, races, ages, and genders are affected. Eating disorders have numerous physical, psychological and social ramifications, from significant weight preoccupation, inappropriate eating behavior, and body image distortion. Many people with eating disorders experience depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and childhood sexual abuse, and may be at risk for osteoporosis and heart problems. Moreover, death rates are among the highest for any mental illness.

42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner (Collins, 1991).

81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat (Mellin et al., 1991).

The average American woman is 5’4" tall and weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11" tall and weighs 117 pounds.

Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women (Smolak, 1996).

51% of 9 and 10 year-old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet (Mellin et al., 1991).

46% of 9-11 year-olds are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets, and

82% of their families are "sometimes" or "very often" on diets (Gustafson-Larson & Terry, 1992).

91% of women recently surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting, 22% dieted "often" or "always" (Kurth et al., 1995).

95% of all dieters will regain their lost weight in 1-5 years (Grodstein, 1996).

35% of "normal dieters" progress to pathological dieting. Of those, 20-25% progress to partial or full-syndrome eating disorders (Shisslak & Crago, 1995).

25% of American men and 45% of American women are on a diet on any given day (Smolak, 1996).

Americans spend over $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products each year (Smolak, 1996).