NEDA TOOLKIT for Parents
Common myths about eating disorders
This information is intended to help dispel all-too-common misunderstandings about eating disorders and those
affected by them. If your family member has an eating disorder, you may wish to share this information with others
(i.e., other family members, friends, teachers, coaches, family physician).
Eating disorders are not an illness
Eating disorders are a complex medical/psychiatric
illness. Eating disorders are classified as a mental
illness in the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health
Disorders (DSM-IV), are considered to often have a
biologic basis, and co-occur with other mental illness
such as major depression, anxiety, or obsessive-
compulsive disorder
Eating disorders are uncommon
They are common. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa,
and binge-eating disorder are on the rise in the United
States and worldwide. Among U.S. females in their
teens and 20s, the prevalence of clinical and
subclinical anorexia may be as high as 15%. Anorexia
nervosa ranks as the 3rd most common chronic illness
among adolescent U.S. females. Recent studies suggest
that up to 7% of U.S. females have had bulimia at some
time in their lives. At any given time an estimated 5% of
the U.S. population has undiagnosed bulimia. Current
findings suggest that binge-eating disorder affects 0.7%
to 4% of the general population.
Eating disorders are a choice
People do not choose to have eating disorders. They
develop over time and require appropriate treatment
to address the complex medical/psychiatric symptoms
and underlying issues.
Eating disorders occur only in females
Eating disorders occur in males. Few solid statistics are
available on the prevalence of eating disorders in
males, but the disorders are believed to be more
common than currently reflected in statistics because
of under-diagnosis. An estimated one-fourth of
anorexia diagnoses in children are in males. The
National Collegiate Athletic Association carried out
studies on the incidence of eating-disordered behavior
among athletes in the 1990s, and reported that of those
athletes who reported having an eating disorder, 7%
were male. For binge-eating disorder, preliminary
research suggests equal prevalence among males and
females. Incidence in males may be underreported
because females are more likely to seek help, and
health practitioners are more likely to consider an
eating disorder diagnosis in females. Differences in
symptoms exist between males and females: females
are more likely to focus on weight loss; males are more
likely to focus on muscle mass. Although issues such as
altering diet to increase muscle mass, over-exercise, or
steroid misuse are not yet criteria for eating disorders,
a growing body of research indicates that these factors
are associated with many, but not all, males with eating
disorders. Men who suffer from eating disorders tend to
be gay
Sexual preference has no correlation with developing
an eating disorder.
Anorexia nervosa is the only serious eating
disorder All eating disorders can have damaging physical and
psychological consequences. Although excess weight
loss is a feature of anorexia nervosa, effects of other
eating disorders can also be serious or life threatening,
such as the electrolyte imbalance associated with
purging. A person cannot die from bulimia
While the rate of death from bulimia nervosa is much
lower than that seen with anorexia nervosa, a person
with bulimia can be at high risk for death and sudden
death because of purging and its impact on the heart
and electrolyte imbalances. Laxative use and excessive
exercise can increase risk of death in individuals who
are actively bulimic.
Subclinical eating disorders are not serious
Although a person may not fulfill the diagnostic criteria
for an eating disorder, the consequences associated
with disordered eating (e.g., frequent vomiting,
excessive exercise, anxiety) can have long-term
consequences and requires intervention. Early
intervention may also prevent progression to a full-
blown clinical eating disorder.
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