Bulimia - How common is it?

If you have bulimia, it might help to know that you aren't alone. This condition is common in countries like the UK.

Here are some things we know about how widespread bulimia is.

In Western countries like the UK and US, between 1 and 2 in every 200 women have bulimia.[5]
Bulimia is more common in younger women (between the ages of 18 and 44) than in older women.[1]
Some men get bulimia, but women are about nine to 10 times more likely to get it than men.[1] [2]
More than 3 in every 100 people have an eating problem like bulimia at some point in their life.[1] [2]
Younger teenagers, even children, can get bulimia.[3]
Bulimia is more common in Western countries, where there's plenty of food and where a lot of people think that you have to be thin to be attractive.[4]
People from all backgrounds get bulimia.[6]

Some people are more likely to get bulimia than others. See Risk factors for bulimia for more information.

References

Bushnell JA, Wells JE, Hornblow AR, et al. Prevalence of three bulimia syndromes in the general population. Psychological Medicine. 1990; 20: 671-680.
Garfinkel PE, Lin E, Goering P, et al. Bulimia nervosa in a Canadian community sample; prevalence and comparison of subgroups. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1995; 152: 1052-1058.
Becker AE, Grinspoon SK, Klibanski A, et al. Eating disorders. New England Journal of Medicine. 1999; 340: 1092-1098.
Walsh BT. Eating Disorders. In: Braunwald E, Hauser SL, Fauci AS, et al (editors). Harrison's principles of internal medicine.15th edition. McGraw-Hill, London, UK; 2001.
Hoek HW, van Hoeken D. Review of the prevalence and incidence of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 2003; 34: 383-396.
Gard MC, Freeman CP. The dismantling of a myth: a review of eating disorders and socioeconomic status. International Journal of Eating Disorders. 1996; 20: 1-12.

This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.