11/24/2021
Eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are lethal. On its own, anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder—meaning more Americans will die as a result of suffering from anorexia than depression or bipolar disorder.
Why are these disorder so deadly? Part of the reason is that they are so common. An estimated 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder, and despite the stigma attached to the disorder, anorexia is not the most common of those. In fact, it is believed that binge eating disorder is the most common.
Despite the high number of sufferers, only about a third of those men and women will ever seek treatment. This can be because they may not see their problem as a medical condition, or because they are ashamed to discuss the problem with others.
As with many mental conditions, eating disorders are misunderstood and frequently oversimplified. The truth is that treating an eating disorder requires professional assistance that may include medical care, mental health care, and dietary counseling and planning. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, we are here to help. Visit MakanaPath.com to learn more.