Global Eating Disorders Surge 71%, With UK Among Worst Hit

Eating disorders have seen a global surge of 71% over the last 30 years, with Britain identified as one of the nations most severely affected, according to a comprehensive international analysis. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that the UK has an unusually high rate of anorexia and bulimia, with over 493 cases per 100,000 people. This incidence is six times higher than Somalia, the country with the lowest reported rates among the 204 nations studied.

Australia leads the world in prevalence, recording 1,026.5 cases per 100,000 people, more than double that of the UK. The United States ranks in the second highest category with 318.1 cases per 100,000.

An international team of scientists, including researchers from the University of Queensland, analyzed population surveys, systematic reviews, and official diagnostic records to compile the estimates. The analysis noted a striking increase in global cases, with diagnoses rising by 74.6% in men and 69.5% in women since 1990.

While Australia and New Zealand experienced the largest surge combined at 83.5%, when adjusted for average population age, East Asia showed the biggest increase at 61.5%. In Western Europe, including the UK, age-adjusted diagnoses rose by 20%.

Previous studies had suggested that the number of people living with eating disorders in the UK had tripled since 2017, rising from 1.25 million to an estimated 3.5 million. The latest analysis estimates that approximately 3.9 million people globally live with anorexia and 14.2 million with bulimia. Scientists predict that if current trends continue, these numbers could rise to 4.7 million with anorexia and 17 million with bulimia nervosa by 2050.

Researchers attribute the variation in prevalence between countries to a complex interplay of genetic, socioeconomic, and cultural factors. The study authors emphasize the need for improved prevention, early detection, and increased capacity for evidence-based treatment in light of the rapid growth in cases.

Experts have pointed to several factors contributing to the rise in eating disorders in the UK, including increased time spent on social media platforms, exam anxiety, and restricted access to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier this month, 74-year-old actor Celia Imrie, known for her role in 'Celebrity Traitors,' revealed her own struggle with anorexia at age 14, detailing a traumatic treatment experience involving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and drug-induced sleep therapy.

Imrie's experience highlights the historical context and potential controversies surrounding treatments for eating disorders. While ECT sends an electric current through the brain to relieve severe symptoms, its efficacy and side effects, including memory loss and trauma, remain subjects of debate among healthcare professionals.