how many people have anorexia
Anorexia nervosa is relatively rare but still affects millions of people worldwide and is considered one of the deadliest mental health conditions.
Quick Scoop: How Many People Have Anorexia?
- Global research suggests lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa is up to about 4% of females and around 0.3% of males.
- In the U.S., estimates suggest roughly 0.9% of women and 0.3% of men will experience anorexia at some point in their lives.
- That translates to hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. alone and many millions worldwide when applied to global population figures.
- Anorexia has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness , with eating disorders overall responsible for over 10,000 deaths per year in the U.S. (about one every 52 minutes).
Snapshot in the U.S. (Illustrative)
| Group | Approx. proportion with anorexia (lifetime) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Women | ~0.9% | Diagnosed about 3× more often than men. | [2][10]
| Men | ~0.3% | Likely underdiagnosed; may make up around a quarter of cases. | [10][2]
| All eating disorders (not just anorexia) | ~9% of U.S. population | About 28.8–30 million people will have some eating disorder. | [7][4][10]
Why These Numbers Matter
Anorexia is not just “being very thin” or “dieting too much”; it is a serious psychiatric illness that can damage the heart, bones, hormones, and nearly every organ system, and it often coexists with anxiety or depression. Because it frequently starts in adolescence and young adulthood and has such a high risk of medical complications, early recognition and treatment can literally save lives.
If you or someone you care about is restricting food, obsessing over weight, over-exercising, or showing a lot of fear around eating, it’s worth taking seriously and talking to a health professional or a trusted adult.
If You’re Worried About Yourself or Someone Else
- Consider speaking with:
- A primary care doctor or pediatrician.
- A mental health professional (therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist) who knows eating disorders.
- Many countries and regions have eating disorder helplines or nonprofit organizations that can help you find support and treatment options.
- If there are signs like fainting, chest pain, very rapid weight loss, or suicidal thoughts, this is a medical emergency and needs urgent care.
You’re not alone in wondering about this; anorexia and other eating disorders are being talked about more now because awareness is improving and more people are reaching out for help.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.