Australia Has World Highest Prevalence of Anorexia and Bulimia

Australia carries the highest prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in the world, recording an estimated 1,026.5 cases per 100,000 residents, according to a global health study. The findings, detailed in JAMA Psychiatry and reported by Xinhua, place the country at the top of an international ledger that highlights a 71 percent surge in these eating disorders between 1990 and 2023.

Global Rise and Demographic Realities

Worldwide, the analysis—drawn from the expansive Global Burden of Disease 2023 framework—estimates that approximately 18.1 million people were living with either anorexia or bulimia in 2023. That total breaks down to 3.92 million individuals affected by anorexia and 14.2 million struggling with bulimia. These conditions resulted in a cumulative loss of 3.81 million disability-adjusted life years around the globe.

The demographic distribution of these illnesses skews heavily toward younger populations and female cohorts. Females account for nearly 70 percent of all global cases. Meanwhile, adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 represent roughly 41 percent of the total affected population.

While Australia recorded the highest per-capita rate, the largest relative increases in incidence occurred across East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Damian Santomauro, a senior author of the study and epidemiologist at the University of Queensland, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC News) that Australia’s leading rank was surprising and concerning.

Methodology and Underestimated Realities

To capture an accurate picture of prevalence without relying solely on hospital admissions or treatment registries—which often miss individuals unable to access care—researchers utilized population-based surveys. This methodology allows epidemiologists to track trends dating back to 1990.

However, researchers and clinical advocates point out that official tallies likely understate the true scope of the crisis. Damian Santomauro noted that Australia’s prominent figures may stem partly from how survey data is collected locally, while adding that the broader impact of eating disorders remains underestimated because the analysis focused exclusively on anorexia and bulimia.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that affect a significant number of people in Australia, and that the number of people affected is growing.

Australia Has World Highest Prevalence of Anorexia and Bulimia — Photo: ABC News & Headlines

That observation, shared by Butterfly Helpline clinical psychologist Sarah Cox with ABC News, underscores the daily reality for healthcare professionals and families navigating treatment pipelines. Sarah Cox emphasized that getting help early improves recovery odds, yet many individuals still encounter steep barriers, including prohibitive costs, regional isolation, and social stigma.

Jeanette Chan, speaking on the cultural dimensions of seeking help, highlighted how traditional frameworks around mental health can complicate diagnosis in multicultural societies. Growing up as a migrant without a native lexicon for mental health issues, she noted that eating disorders are frequently viewed through a narrow Western lens, which affects how communities recognize and articulate problematic behaviors.

Looking ahead, researchers project that global case numbers will continue to climb through 2050, reinforcing calls from public health advocates to integrate eating disorders more systematically into mental health surveillance, preventative screening, and early intervention programs worldwide.