10 Things You Didn’t Know About Eating Disorders:

Finding information about eating disorders can be pretty simple. The Internet has almost unlimited resources about eating disorders, with information ranging from symptoms to treatment.

However, many of the resources only have general information. Here are 10 things that you probably did not know about eating disorders:

1. The average bulimic binges approximately 3,400 calories in just over one hour.

In fact, bulimics consume up to 20,000 calories in binges that can last up to 8 hours. The average teenager eats about 2,000 to 3,000 total calories per day.

2. Biochemical or biological factors can contribute to eating disorders.

Recent research has found that inherited biological and genetic factors can contribute to over 50% of the risk in developing an eating disorder. Studies have found that abnormalities in the hypothalamus, a brain structure that regulates eating behaviors, can contribute to eating disorders.

3. Family influence can contribute greatly to eating disorders.

Though biological factors can contribute to eating disorders, family and environmental issues play a large part in the onset and retention of eating disorders. Pressures from the family can overstep healthy emotional boundaries and cause unhealthy behavior in teenagers or, in this case, eating disorders.

4. Apart from anorexia and bulimia, there are many other eating disorders.

One thing that most people do not know about eating disorders is that there are dozens of different types ranging from pica (where the individual eats non-food items) to night-eating.

5. While the average women is 5′4″ and weighs 140 pounds, the average model is 5′11″ and weights 117 pounds.

Most fashion models are thinner than 98% of American women. It comes as no surprise then that young girls are pressured to be thin.

6. Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents.

7. Bulimia is more common in athletes than non-athletes.

Bulimia especially affects gymnasts, wrestlers, dancers, football players, and other athletes who are pressured to stay fit.

8. Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment.

This interesting fact about eating disorders shows the shame that many sufferers feel, and the difficulty of treatment and recovery.

9. 74% of American Indian girls have reported dieting and purging with diet pills.

While rates of minorities with eating disorders are similar to those of white women, it affects certain minorities more than others. For example, eating disorders are unsually common in young women from Japan.

10. The diet industry is a 50 billion dollar a year business.

The diet industry preys on fear and self-esteem, making it tough to stay positive about body image. The bombardment of what the society considers to be “beautiful” in diet advertisements is continually displayed on the Internet and billboards around the Nation.
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