About 8% of people in the United States are expected to experience an eating disorder at some point in life. Onset often begins between ages 12 and 18, and the estimated annual incidence is about 1 in 1,000 among U.S. children and adolescents. Even as prevalence includes binge-eating disorder as the most common adult eating disorder, eating disorders still contribute to substantial harm, with suicide accounting for roughly 5% of deaths among people with eating disorders.
Key Takeaways
- Eating disorders have an average age of onset between 12 and 18 years
- The estimated annual incidence of eating disorder cases in U.S. children and adolescents is 1 in 1,000
- An estimated 2.5% of U.S. children and adolescents have an eating disorder at some point
- 8% of people will have an eating disorder (ED) at some point in their lives
- 0.3% of adult men and 0.9% of adult women reported anorexia nervosa in the U.S. (2016–2018)
- In the U.S., 8.2% of high school students reported they ever used laxatives or diuretics to lose weight
- In a systematic review, anorexia nervosa showed a standardized mortality ratio of about 5.9 compared with the general population
- In the U.S., approximately 5% of deaths in people with eating disorders occur from suicide
- The estimated risk of death for anorexia nervosa can be up to 10% over 10 years (reported in clinical literature)
- In the U.S., the mean length of stay for eating disorder hospitalizations was 6.6 days (2009–2015)
- Only 44.2% of adults with any mental illness received treatment (2016–2017)
- $64.7 billion estimated total societal economic burden of eating disorders in the U.S. (includes health, productivity, and caregiver costs)
- $1,000,000,000+ annual U.S. healthcare costs attributable to eating disorders (estimate reported by review literature)
- Inpatient stays accounted for 54% of total direct healthcare costs for eating disorders in a U.S. claims analysis
- In a U.S. survey, 35% of clinicians reported that insurance coverage delayed treatment initiation for eating disorders
Eating disorders often start in teens, affect millions, and carry serious health and economic costs.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence5 stats
01
Eating disorders have an average age of onset between 12 and 18 years
02
The estimated annual incidence of eating disorder cases in U.S. children and adolescents is 1 in 1,000
03
An estimated 2.5% of U.S. children and adolescents have an eating disorder at some point
04
Eating disorders are the third most common chronic illness among adolescents after asthma and obesity
05
Binge-eating disorder is the most prevalent eating disorder in adults in the U.S.
Interpretation
Incidence Interpretation
From an incidence perspective, eating disorders typically begin between ages 12 and 18 and affect about 2.5% of U.S. children and adolescents over time, with an estimated annual incidence of roughly 1 in 1,000, making them a consistently recurring adolescent health issue rather than a rare event.
02 · Category
Prevalence4 stats
01
8% of people will have an eating disorder (ED) at some point in their lives
02
0.3% of adult men and 0.9% of adult women reported anorexia nervosa in the U.S. (2016–2018)
03
In the U.S., 8.2% of high school students reported they ever used laxatives or diuretics to lose weight
04
In 2021, 4.5% of U.S. adults reported having binge-eating disorder
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
Prevalence data show that eating disorders are far from rare, with 8% of people experiencing an eating disorder at some point, and specific behaviors and diagnoses also reaching notable levels such as 4.5% of adults reporting binge-eating disorder and 8.2% of high school students using laxatives or diuretics to lose weight.
03 · Category
Mortality & Outcomes5 stats
01
In a systematic review, anorexia nervosa showed a standardized mortality ratio of about 5.9 compared with the general population
02
In the U.S., approximately 5% of deaths in people with eating disorders occur from suicide
03
The estimated risk of death for anorexia nervosa can be up to 10% over 10 years (reported in clinical literature)
04
Binge-eating disorder is associated with increased risk of obesity-related comorbidities, with odds of cardiometabolic disease higher than in people without binge-eating disorder (systematic review)
05
In the U.S., eating disorders account for 0.3% of all years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) among females (Global Burden of Disease 2019, mapped to U.S.)
Interpretation
Mortality & Outcomes Interpretation
From a mortality and outcomes perspective, the data show that anorexia nervosa carries a roughly 5.9-fold higher death rate than the general population and an estimated up to 10% risk of death over 10 years, while in the U.S. about 5% of eating-disorder deaths are due to suicide and eating disorders contribute 0.3% of disability life years among females.
04 · Category
Healthcare Utilization2 stats
01
In the U.S., the mean length of stay for eating disorder hospitalizations was 6.6 days (2009–2015)
02
Only 44.2% of adults with any mental illness received treatment (2016–2017)
Interpretation
Healthcare Utilization Interpretation
Healthcare utilization for eating disorders appears limited and short, with hospital stays averaging just 6.6 days from 2009 to 2015, and more broadly only 44.2% of U.S. adults with any mental illness receiving treatment in 2016 to 2017 suggests many people never reach consistent care.
More related reading
05 · Category
Costs & Economics5 stats
01
$64.7 billion estimated total societal economic burden of eating disorders in the U.S. (includes health, productivity, and caregiver costs)
02
$1,000,000,000+ annual U.S. healthcare costs attributable to eating disorders (estimate reported by review literature)
03
Inpatient stays accounted for 54% of total direct healthcare costs for eating disorders in a U.S. claims analysis
04
Eating disorders consume 5% of total costs of treating mental disorders in the U.S. (review estimate)
05
Children and adolescents with eating disorders had 2.6x higher healthcare expenditures than matched controls (claims study)
Interpretation
Costs & Economics Interpretation
In the U.S., eating disorders create an enormous economic burden, with an estimated $64.7 billion total societal cost and at least $1 billion in annual healthcare spending, where inpatient care drives 54% of direct costs and young people face especially steep spending at 2.6 times higher expenditures than matched controls.
06 · Category
Access & Workforce5 stats
01
In a U.S. survey, 35% of clinicians reported that insurance coverage delayed treatment initiation for eating disorders
02
In the U.S., there are fewer than 1,000 board-certified adult psychiatrists per 100,000 adults in many areas (workforce distribution analysis)
03
The U.S. had 31,400 psychiatrists in 2022 (AAMC/AMA physician workforce)
04
U.S. primary care physician supply was 88.1 per 100,000 population in 2022 (AAMC workforce indicators)
05
In the U.S., 45% of counties have no mental health care provider (workforce mapping study)
Interpretation
Access & Workforce Interpretation
With 35% of clinicians reporting that insurance delays eating disorder treatment, fewer than 1,000 adult psychiatrists per 100,000 in many areas, and 45% of counties lacking any mental health care provider, access and workforce gaps are strongly limiting timely care across the United States.
07 · Category
Prevalence & Burden2 stats
01
0.8% of U.S. adults reported current bulimia nervosa in 2021
02
1,400 deaths per year in the U.S. were attributed to eating disorders (age-adjusted rate 0.5 per 100,000) in 2017
Interpretation
Prevalence & Burden Interpretation
In the Prevalence and Burden category, just 0.8% of U.S. adults reported current bulimia nervosa in 2021, yet eating disorders still accounted for about 1,400 deaths per year in 2017, underscoring that even relatively low prevalence can translate into substantial mortality.
report visual · Comparison
How Common and How Many Are Impacted (U.S.)
Eating disorders affect people across age groups—lifetime prevalence is about 8%, with a sizable share among youth—and reported prevalence varies by disorder type.
8% of people will have an eating disorder (ED) at some point in their lives8%
In 2021, 4.5% of U.S. adults reported having binge-eating disorder
4.5%
An estimated 2.5% of U.S. children and adolescents have an eating disorder at some point
2.5%
0.8% of U.S. adults reported current bulimia nervosa in 2021
0.8%
source-verifiednimh.nih.gov · pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · jamanetwork.com · cdc.gov2021
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). United States Eating Disorder Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-eating-disorder-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "United States Eating Disorder Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-eating-disorder-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "United States Eating Disorder Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-eating-disorder-statistics.
Sources & references
28 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+17 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)