Women are bombarded by images of air brushed models from every direction, everyday. Today on the FoxCT Morning Extra, we’re talking to SCSU profesor of marriage and family, Patricia Debarbieri, about how many Americans are affected, the warning signs, and how to embrace a healthy body image.
Eating Disorder Statistics:
-90-95% of people with anorexia nervosa are women.
-Anorexia nervosa is estimated to affect one in every 100 adolescent girls.
-Anorexia nervosa is most pervasive among Caucasians and among people in middle to upper socioeconomic groups.
-In 1985, it was estimated that 20% of people with anorexia die from the long-term physical effects caused by chronic starvation. In 2007, it was estimated that 6% of anorexics die from all complications of the disease, including cardiac arrest, electrolyte imbalances, and suicide.
-According to some studies, 5-7% of women in the U.S. will suffer from an eating disorder at some time in their lives.
-Of all eating disorders, BED (Binge Eating Disorder) reportedly occurs across the widest range of ages, has the most male sufferers, and affects the greatest percentage of people.
-BED is reported to be affecting up to 8,000,000 Americans today.
-It is believed that three times the number of women binge, but do not meet the clinical definition of BED.
-About 2% of the female population of the United States has BED. For every two men who have BED, three women have it.
-BED affects around 10-15% of people who are mildly obese and a greater percentage of those who are severely obese. Overall, 25% of people who are obese also suffer from BED.
-About 70% of bulimics have a weight in the normal range, with roughly 15% overweight and the same amount underweight.
-Over their entire lifetimes, about 3% of American women will suffer from bulimia nervosa at some point.
-About 6% of high school girls 13-19 and 5% of college-aged women are thought to have bulimia.
-Men make up 10% of bulimics.
-Between 20% and 40% of women with bulimia have had problems with drug or alcohol use.
-The age at onset of bulimia ranges from 13 to 58 years.
There are seven ways to prevent eating disorders from happening in the first place:
- I am unique. It is important to identify your special qualities. This does not mean that everything you do is wonderful, nor are you always right, but nobody does it quite like you.
- I am connected. A strong support network is important, especially in the formative years.
- I am comfortable in my body. The “beautiful people” tend to be the stars of TV, movies, advertisements and other forms of media. But the problem is that the images shown tend to be the exceptions, rather than the rule, within the population.
- I am lovable. Unconditional love is said to be the purest form of love on earth. That feeling of being accepted and loved is crucial to a healthy self-esteem.
- I am capable. Self-confidence is an important quality to have when dealing with life’s twists and turns. That confidence – genuine self-confidence as opposed to false bravado – generally is developed through taking on age-appropriate responsibilities.
- I assert my power to make choices. An important factor in developing a healthy self-esteem is being able to assert yourself in making your own choices. Allowing other people to make your decisions consistently can chip away at your self-esteem.
- I have role models. Role models can fall into the category of people we know personally, those we admire from afar and even those who are fictional. But be careful to choose positive role models who embrace good values. There are plenty of poor role models in society.
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