Eating Disorders

The majority of eating disorders are far more likely to occur in females than males, the ratio being around 10:1. Conservative estimates suggest that between 1 and 4 percent of older adolescent females and young women in Western society suffer from anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa (Brownell and Fairburn 2001). Food avoidance emotional disorder, selective eating, and functional dysphagia affect boys and girls equally (Lask and Bryant-Waugh 2000).

Previously, eating disorders were most likely to occur in white middle-class young women. However, incidence patterns are now changing and eating disorders may be found in any race, ethnicity, social class, culture, age, or sex, although prevalence data are not available.

Specific risk factors for the development of eating disorders include:

1. Poor self-esteem;
2. Family history of eating disorders;
3. Participation in sports or other pursuits that emphasize low body weight, for example, modeling, ballet, gymnastics, cheerleading, athletics;
4. Past history of sexual abuse; and
5. Perfectionist and conscientious personality types, who have a need to please others and have difficulty in expressing negative feelings.