Eating Disorders Facts
There are many eating disorders facts, and by knowing these facts they can help us treat, and understand someone who is suffering from an eating disorder.
It is estimated that about eight million Americans have some kind of eating disorder. About seven million of these are woman, and one million are men. Out of these numbers about one in two-hundred American women suffer from anorexia. Two in three American women suffer from bulimia. About 10-15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are males. These numbers tell us how many people are suffering from an eating disorder each and every day.
Some anorexia facts that help us understand anorexia start with it is one of the most common eating disorders. It is known to start in the mid-teens and is more common in girls than in boys. An individual suffers from extreme weight loss and they are often known to have a very strict diet. These people often times may abuse laxatives or do excessive exercise to try to lose weight. People who suffer from anorexia believe themselves to be fat, or are extremely terrified of becoming fat. Only about three in ten continue to have major long term illness, and for those who go untreated about 15% of them will die from the disorder within 20 years of its onset.
Bulimia is the second most common eating disorder, and is an eating disorder where an individual often craves food and binge eats; only later they make themselves sick, or misuse laxatives to get the food out of their bodies. Like anorexia these people are also terrified of becoming fat and about 2 to 3 out of 100 American woman suffer from this type of eating disorder. These bulimia facts are just the start in order to better understand this eating disorder and find a way to help treat those who suffer from it.
The question that remains is why does an individual suffer from an eating disorder?
For some an eating disorder may develop from a response to a difficult life experience such as abuse, or social pressure that often arises around puberty. Others it may be from genetic factors that play some kind of role, although this is more common with anorexia. It may be the result of depression, or the result of some kind of obsessive disorder. These eating disorders are also more common to find in cultures where it is considered desirable to be slim.
There is treatment for eating disorders, where mental health professionals are trained with many skills to work and treat people. There are many eating disorder treatment centers that an individual may go to in order to receive the proper treatment. There are places that specialize in particular eating disorders, such as anorexia treatment.
No one needs to put themselves through an eating disorder and knowing that there is help out there is the first step to take. By knowing these eating disorders facts we can better understand those who suffer.