Anorexia and bulimia cases projected to reach nearly 22 million by 2050
Social media trending hashtags such as skinny girl dinner and thinspiration are promoting restrictive eating and a lifestyle centered on staying thin to millions of people around the world. This hunger for thinness is also finding its way into the misuse of GLP-1 drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists), a medical breakthrough that has transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes and…
Approximately 18.1 million individuals globally suffered from anorexia or bulimia in 2023, representing a 71% increase since 1990, with projections indicating this number could reach nearly 22 million by 2050. These disorders predominantly affected women, constituting 69% of cases, and were most prevalent in high-income regions such as Australasia and Western Europe.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are mental health conditions stemming from complex genetic and environmental factors, with higher prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) among young adults and adolescents. Despite representing a significant global burden with an estimated 3.83 million years of healthy life lost in 2023, these disorders often remain undetected and untreated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and among males.
The study emphasizes the urgency of early detection, consistent monitoring, and integrated treatment approaches for anorexia and bulimia within mental health care systems worldwide.
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