Many men and women in this world know who ED is. He is present is so many people’s lives. He is relentless and evil. He wants to take full control of your life. He alienates you from your loved ones and friends. He wants you to be lonely so that you are loyal to him and only him.
He wants you to stay home. To eat the same things (if anything) and to maintain the routine that he sets for you. He talks to you throughout the day to make sure you are obeying. He wants you to leave your friends, school and work. He is secretive about it and very condescending.
He tells you that you are worthless. Fat. Ugly. That you have no power over your life. He then takes control and convinces you that he is the key to your happiness. The one to listen to and the one to worship. You become a victim of his lies and manipulation and can’t get him out of your life. You are helpless, miserable and scared. And it now becomes a matter of life or death.
- It is estimated that 8 million Americans have an eating disorder (ED) – seven million women and one million men
- One in 200 American women suffers from anorexia
- Two to three in 100 American women suffers from bulimia
- Nearly half of all Americans personally know someone with an eating disorder (Note: One in five Americans suffers from mental illnesses.)
- An estimated 10 – 15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are males
MORTALITY RATES
- Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness
- A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 – 10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18-20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover
- The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old.
- 20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
ACCESS TO TREATMENT
- Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders receive treatment
- About 80% of the girls/women who have accessed care for their eating disorders do not get the intensity of treatment they need to stay in recovery – they are often sent home weeks earlier than the recommended stay
- Treatment of an eating disorder in the US ranges from $500 per day to $2,000 per day. The average cost for a month of inpatient treatment is $30,000. It is estimated that individuals with eating disorders need anywhere from 3 – 6 months of inpatient care. Health insurance companies for several reasons do not typically cover the cost of treating eating disorders
- The cost of outpatient treatment, including therapy and medical monitoring, can extend to $100,000 or more
ADOLESCENTS
- Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents
- 95% of those who have eating disorders are between the ages of 12 and 25
- 50% of girls between the ages of 11 and 13 see themselves as overweight
- 80% of 13-year-olds have attempted to lose weight
RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES
- Rates of minorities with eating disorders are similar to those of white women
- 74% of American Indian girls reported dieting and purging with diet pills
- Essence magazine, in 1994, reported that 53.5% of their respondents, African-American females were at risk of an eating disorder
- Eating disorders are one of the most common psychological problems facing young women in Japan.
CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED WITH EATING DISORDERS:
- Paula Abdul
- Justine Batemen
- Karen Carpenter
- Nadia Comaneci
- Susan Dey
- Jane Fonda
- Tracey Gold
- Elton John
It’s chocking how frequent ED is, while you mostly don’t see much at all… I mean, it’s such a hidden thing. And really sad. Let’s hope that one day, these facts will be a little less dramatic!
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Yes! Let’s hope so! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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A very powerful post. Sadly, I know people with eating disorders. It takes a village as they say to help someone overcome an eating disorder. My friends received help in time.
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Glad to hear that your friends received help in time! It gives others hope. 🙂
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Thank you for posting this Maria. I have watched friends go through this and although they are healthy now, their lives have definitely been forever changed.
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It is encouraging that many do get better but like you said, their lives are forever changed and they know that ED is lurking near, always, ready to take advantage of their weak moments.
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I hate him and wish he would just go away and leave all of us alone already.
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If we can get Osama Bin Laden, we should be able to destroy Ed!
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The problem with our American health care system is that as soon as medical professionals and insurance companies decided to focus on profit rather than making people well, we lost all grip on reality. It maddens me that we have so many sick people everywhere, struggling with real issues that require serious care, and our system denies them the treatment that will make them well.
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It maddens me also, Andra. It’s so tough to see people struggle and not get the help. I have witnessed that even if they do have great health insurance that covers everything (like I did when I got my niece some help), ED is still there fighting and often winning the battle. He is so evil and stronger than most.
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Encouraging discourse is a step forward to beating the stigma. Xx
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Yes! I felt it necessary to share the information. The more we know, the better. 🙂
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Great post! Many are not aware they even have an eating disorder.
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True. It’s like being an alcoholic. They may believe that they don’t have a problem and that they have it all under control. It often takes a loved one to point out the facts to try to get them to see it. It’s tough to fight with Ed though, he is one mean son of a *#@!
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Wow. It’s not just our culture… Agree with Jill… Maybe health insurance companies should be in the business of insuring good health (instead of profit?). Seems like even girls (mostly) who don’t have ED struggle with body image. What the HECK!! One more reason to love that Dove campaign… Beautiful, healthy, normal size women!
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You are right, Lee! We ALL struggle with body image even into adulthood (guilty). Some of that is somewhat innocent, but it can easily lead to a life or death situation. Very sad and scary.
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You say it! This was great. It’s really a shame how many people suffer with this, and how many people won’t or can’t get help. 😦
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Yes, Lily. ED is so powerful and evil that he won’t let his victims get the help. Someone more powerful than ED has to take over and yank the person away from his hold.
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Perhaps if more insurance companies covered the cost of treating ED, more people would seek treatment. It’s sad to hear a 10 year old girl talk about counting calories.
A very informative post, Maria ~ well done!
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It is sickening how insurance companies deal with mental illness in general! EDs are so prevalent . I’ve watched loved ones struggle and have come to detest ED himself!
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