Prevalence of eating disorders: a comparison of Western and non-Western countries.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of eating disorders between Western and non-Western countries.


METHODS
Potential references were identified through an English-language literature search using Medline and Medscape articles.


RESULTS
Prevalence rates in Western countries for anorexia nervosa ranged from 0.1% to 5.7% in female subjects. Prevalence rates for bulimia nervosa ranged from 0% to 2.1% in males and from 0.3% to 7.3% in female subjects in Western countries. Prevalence rates in non-Western countries for bulimia nervosa ranged from 0.46% to 3.2% in female subjects. Studies of eating attitudes indicate abnormal eating attitudes in non-Western countries have been gradually increasing.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of eating disorders in non-Western countries is lower than that of the Western countries but appears to be increasing.
Makino
Mariko
M
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsuboi
Koji
K
Dennerstein
Lorraine
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D019366:Western World