TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidemiology of eating disorders
T2 - population, prevalence, disease burden and quality of life informing public policy in Australia—a rapid review
AU - Hay, Phillipa
AU - Aouad, Phillip
AU - Le, Anvi
AU - Marks, Peta
AU - Maloney, Danielle
AU - Barakat, Sarah
AU - Boakes, Robert
AU - Brennan, Leah
AU - Bryant, Emma
AU - Byrne, Susan
AU - Caldwell, Belinda
AU - Calvert, Shannon
AU - Carroll, Bronny
AU - Castle, David
AU - Caterson, Ian
AU - Chelius, Belinda
AU - Chiem, Lyn
AU - Clarke, Simon
AU - Conti, Janet
AU - Crouch, Lexi
AU - Dammery, Genevieve
AU - Dzajkovski, Natasha
AU - Fardouly, Jasmine
AU - Feneley, John
AU - Foroughi, Nasim
AU - Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Mathew
AU - Fursland, Anthea
AU - Gonzalez-Arce, Veronica
AU - Gouldthorp, Bethanie
AU - Griffin, Kelly
AU - Griffiths, Scott
AU - Hambleton, Ashlea
AU - Hannigan, Amy
AU - Hart, Mel
AU - Hart, Susan
AU - Hickie, Ian
AU - Kay-Lambkin, Francis
AU - King, Ross
AU - Kohn, Michael
AU - Koreshe, Eyza
AU - Krug, Isabel
AU - Linardon, Jake
AU - Long, Randall
AU - Long, Amanda
AU - Madden, Sloane
AU - McLean, Siân
AU - Meddick, Thy
AU - Miskovic-Wheatley, Jane
AU - O’Kearney, Richard
AU - Rieger, Elizabeth
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, The Author(s).
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Background: Understanding of the epidemiology and health burden of eating disorders has progressed significantly in the last 2 decades. It was considered one of seven key areas to inform the Australian Government commissioned National Eating Disorder Research and Translation Strategy 2021–2031, as emerging research had highlighted a rise in eating disorder prevalence and worsening burden-of-illness. The aim of this review was to better understand the global epidemiology and impact of eating disorders to inform policy decision-making. Methods: Using a systematic Rapid Review methodology, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Medline (Ovid) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2009 and 2021. Clear inclusion criteria were developed in consultation with experts in the field. Purposive sampling of literature was conducted, which predominately focused on higher-level evidence (meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and large epidemiological studies), synthesised, and narratively analysed. Results: 135 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion in this review (N = 1324). Prevalence estimates varied. Global Lifetime prevalence of any eating disorder ranged from 0.74 to 2.2% in males, and 2.58–8.4% in females. Australian 3-month point-prevalence of broadly defined disorders was around 16% in females. Eating disorders appeared more prevalent in young people and adolescents, particularly females (in Australia: eating disorders ~ 22.2%; disordered eating ~ 25.7%). Limited evidence was found on sex, sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTQI +) individuals, particularly males, who had a six-fold increase in prevalence compared to the general male population, with increased illness impact. Similarly, limited evidence on First Australian’s (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) suggests prevalence rates similar to non-Indigenous Australians. No prevalence studies were identified specifically assessing culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Global disease burden of any eating disorder was 43.4 age-standardised disability-adjusted-life-years per 100,000; increasing by 9.4% between 2007 and 2017. Australian’s total economic cost was estimated at $84 billion from years-of-life lost due to disability and death, and annual lost earnings ~ $1.646 billion.” Conclusions: There is no doubt that eating disorder prevalence and impact are on the rise, particularly in at-risk and understudied populations. Much of the evidence came from female-only samples, and Western, high-income countries which more readily have access to specialised services. Future research should examine more representative samples. There is an urgent need for more refined epidemiological methods to better understand these complex illnesses over time, to guide health policy and development-of-care.
AB - Background: Understanding of the epidemiology and health burden of eating disorders has progressed significantly in the last 2 decades. It was considered one of seven key areas to inform the Australian Government commissioned National Eating Disorder Research and Translation Strategy 2021–2031, as emerging research had highlighted a rise in eating disorder prevalence and worsening burden-of-illness. The aim of this review was to better understand the global epidemiology and impact of eating disorders to inform policy decision-making. Methods: Using a systematic Rapid Review methodology, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Medline (Ovid) were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between 2009 and 2021. Clear inclusion criteria were developed in consultation with experts in the field. Purposive sampling of literature was conducted, which predominately focused on higher-level evidence (meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and large epidemiological studies), synthesised, and narratively analysed. Results: 135 studies were deemed eligible for inclusion in this review (N = 1324). Prevalence estimates varied. Global Lifetime prevalence of any eating disorder ranged from 0.74 to 2.2% in males, and 2.58–8.4% in females. Australian 3-month point-prevalence of broadly defined disorders was around 16% in females. Eating disorders appeared more prevalent in young people and adolescents, particularly females (in Australia: eating disorders ~ 22.2%; disordered eating ~ 25.7%). Limited evidence was found on sex, sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTQI +) individuals, particularly males, who had a six-fold increase in prevalence compared to the general male population, with increased illness impact. Similarly, limited evidence on First Australian’s (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) suggests prevalence rates similar to non-Indigenous Australians. No prevalence studies were identified specifically assessing culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Global disease burden of any eating disorder was 43.4 age-standardised disability-adjusted-life-years per 100,000; increasing by 9.4% between 2007 and 2017. Australian’s total economic cost was estimated at $84 billion from years-of-life lost due to disability and death, and annual lost earnings ~ $1.646 billion.” Conclusions: There is no doubt that eating disorder prevalence and impact are on the rise, particularly in at-risk and understudied populations. Much of the evidence came from female-only samples, and Western, high-income countries which more readily have access to specialised services. Future research should examine more representative samples. There is an urgent need for more refined epidemiological methods to better understand these complex illnesses over time, to guide health policy and development-of-care.
KW - Burden of disease
KW - Eating disorders
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Incidence
KW - Prevalence
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85148526155&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s40337-023-00738-7
DO - 10.1186/s40337-023-00738-7
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85148526155
SN - 2050-2974
VL - 11
JO - Journal of Eating Disorders
JF - Journal of Eating Disorders
IS - 1
M1 - 23
ER -