Bodywhys - The Eating Disorder Association of Ireland

Fifteen facts about eating disorders

This year Bodywhys are marking 15 years supporting people affected by eating disorders in Ireland.

Fifteen Facts

• 200,000 people in Ireland are affected by eating disorders[i].
• There are only 3 dedicated public beds for the treatment of eating disorders in Ireland
• Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health condition. Every year in Ireland 80 people die as a result[ii].
• Between 10[iii] and 25% of eating disorders occur in men[iv]
• A girl with a history of dieting is between 5 and 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder [v].
• Up to 10% of cases of anorexia are now occurring in those aged under 10[vi]
• Anorexia is estimated to affect 1 fifteen-year-old girl in every 150, and 1 fifteen-year-old boy in every 1000[vii].
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia is 200 times higher than the suicide rate of females in the general population[viii].
• An estimated 20.8% of anorexia nervosa patients[ix] and 23% of bulimia nervosa patients do not recover or improve but develop a long term or chronic form of the eating disorder[x].
• In a study of Irish adolescent girls, 27.2% were found to exhibit clinical levels of bulimia[xi].
• Self injury occurs in up to 35% of cases of bulimia nervosa[xii].
•  Binge eating disorder affects men and women in almost equal numbers, and in total affects up to 4% of the adult population[xiii].
• Self-image was identified as the number one factor that ‘hurts’ the mental health of Irish teens[xiv]
•  The average age for the development of an eating disorder is 15 years old
• There are no dedicated treatment units for child and adolescent eating disorders in Ireland.