Incidence, prevalence and mortality of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing epidemiological literature without reported systematic review methodology.
PubMed 16721169 · doi:10.1097/01.yco.0000228759.95237.78
What was done
The author reviewed recent literature to evaluate the incidence, prevalence, and mortality associated with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders, examining historical trends, general-practice datasets, and demographic patterns.
What was found
The incidence of anorexia nervosa was approximately 8 per 100,000 persons per year. Although incidence rose historically through the 1970s—with a significant increase among females aged 15 to 24 years between 1935 and 1999—general-practice data showed overall incidence remained stable during the 1990s compared to the 1980s. Average prevalence among young females was 0.3% for anorexia nervosa and 1.0% for bulimia nervosa. Evidence suggested bulimia nervosa occurrence may be decreasing. High mortality in anorexia nervosa was confirmed. Anorexia nervosa was identified as common in young white females and extremely rare in black females. Only a minority of affected individuals, particularly those with bulimia nervosa, received mental healthcare.
Why it matters
This synthesis provides baseline epidemiological estimates for clinical benchmark setting and underscores that despite high mortality risk, most individuals with eating disorders remain untreated in specialized mental healthcare.
Limits
The abstract does not state the number of studies reviewed, search criteria, or specific effect sizes for mortality. Findings rely on healthcare-based records that likely underestimate true community prevalence and may reflect diagnostic or healthcare-seeking biases regarding race and demographic groups.
Cited by
- context The population frequency of anorexia nervosa has remained steady over time rather than increasing in response to modern media or social media.