Facts about Bulimia

Facts and statistics regarding bulimia nervosa

To understand what the disorder is and what is entailed with experiencing it, you need to be aware of some of the statistics and facts about bulimia. First and foremost, the disorder is characterized by alternating periods of binging and purging or over-eating and then self-inducing vomiting. It also involves the abuse of diuretics and laxatives as well as excessive exercise and fasting.

The following are some facts about bulimia and statistics regarding the disorder that you need to be aware of:

• Roughly 50% of those individuals that have had anorexia have developed bulimic patterns
• In the 5-year period between 1988 and 1993, the number of women between the ages of 10 and 39 that developed bulimia tripled
• 25% of college age women will manage their weight by binging and purging
• 14% of gay men develop bulimia
• Only 6% of individuals who are suffering with the disorder get mental health care
• Females who diet regularly are 12 times as likely to develop bulimia as those who don’t

Where gender is concerned, bulimia is 9 times more common in females than males (5% to 15% of the individuals with the disorder are men). However, the incidence and prevalence of bulimia in males has increased significantly in the past decade. From the standpoint of ethnicity, the disorder is perceived as an affliction that targets mostly Caucasian females, specifically younger women of the middle or upper socioeconomic classes. However, no ethnic group is exempt from the disorder.

Additional considerations

It is usually difficult to diagnose bulimia because the suffering individual takes whatever steps they need to keep others from recognizing that they have the disorder. Despite the fact that the individual with the disorder has a distorted image of himself or herself, they appear to look fine to others. In fact, in most cases, the individual isn’t overweight at all and are sometimes slightly underweight. Regardless of how many facts about bulimia that you find, getting treatment is critical.

We are here to help you

Our facility specializes in the treatment of all the major eating disorders and can develop a program that will address your personal needs so that you can overcome your disorder and return to a normal lifestyle. If you or a loved one needs more facts about bulimia and wants to learn more about our treatment programs, please contact us at the toll-free phone number above.