Prevalence Over the course of a lifetime, 1–2% of women and 0.1–0.5% of men develop the disorder (Hoek & van Hoeken, 2003; Hudson et al., 2007). |
Comorbidity Up to 75% of people with bulimia have at least one other disorder, often an anxiety disorder or depression (Godart et al., 2003). |
Onset Bulimia usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. People in more recent birth cohorts (that is, those born more recently) have a higher risk for developing bulimia (Hudson et al., 2007). |
Course At a 15-month follow-up, almost one third of people diagnosed with bulimia still met the criteria for the diagnosis; at a 5-year follow-up, that proportion dropped to 15% (Fairburn et al., 2000); other studies find similar results (Zeeck et al., 2011). However, people who no longer meet the DSM-5 criteria for the disorder may nevertheless continue to have persistent symptoms of bulimia, although not the number, frequency, or intensity specified by the criteria (Ben-Tovim, 2003; Keel et al., 1999). People who have less intense negative attitudes about their bodies and who function better in daily life are more likely to have a healthier outcome (Ben-Tovim, 2003; Keel et al., 1999). |
Gender Differences Approximately 75–90% of people who have bulimia nervosa are female (Hoek & van Hoeken, 2003; Hudson et al., 2007). |
Cultural Differences Some studies find significant differences in prevalence, frequency, and symptoms of eating disorders across ethnic groups within the United States. Specifically, Black and Hispanic American women are less likely to be diagnosed with bulimia than are Asian American or White American women (Alegría et al., 2007; Nicdao et al., 2007; Taylor et al., 2007). |
| Source: Unless otherwise noted, the source for information is American Psychiatric Association, 2013. |