Global eating disorders affect 18 million people

An international study published in JAMA Psychiatry reveals that approximately 18.1 million people worldwide were living with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa in 2023. This represents a 71 percent increase in cases since 1990, with projections suggesting a potential doubling of cases by 2050.

Research conducted by an international team, including experts from Nanjing University and the Medical University of Vienna, indicates that women account for 69.4 percent of cases, while men represent 30.6 percent. Young people aged 10 to 24 are particularly vulnerable, making up 41.2 percent of those affected.

High prevalence rates are observed in high-income regions, including Western Europe, Australasia, and the Pacific. Experts suggest that Western lifestyles, beauty ideals emphasizing thinness, and social media act as negative amplifiers that contribute to the rising numbers. In Austria, some specialists note that over 90 percent of affected individuals are female.