Prevalence
There is little data on the prevalence of bulimia nervosa. Most studies conducted so far have been on based on samples provided from hospital patients, high school or university students. These have yielded a wide range of results: between 0.1% and 1.4% of males, and between 0.3% and 9.4% of females. Studies on time trends in the prevalence of bulimia nervosa have also yielded inconsistent results.
Country |
Year |
Sample size and type |
Incidence | |
Australia |
2008 |
1943 adolescents (ages 15–17) |
1.4% male |
9.4% female |
USA |
1996 |
1152 college students |
0.2% male |
1.3% female |
Norway |
1995 |
19067 psychiatric patients |
0.7% male |
7.3% female |
Canada |
1995 |
8116 (random sample) |
0.1% male |
1.1% female |
There are higher rates of eating disorders in groups involved in activities which idealize a slim physique, such as dance, gymnastics, modeling, cheerleading, running, acting, rowing and figure skating. Bulimia is more prevalent among Caucasians.