UNC study: Eating disorders common among U.S. women

William Atkins
Saturday, 26 April 2008 19:45

Science - Health

The specific findings of the study performed by Bulik and Reba-Harrelson is quoted below.

They are:

•    75 percent of women report disordered eating behaviors or symptoms consistent with eating disorders; so three out of four have an unhealthy relationship with food or their bodies
•    67 percent of women (excluding those with actual eating disorders) are trying to lose weight
•    53 percent of dieters are already at a healthy weight and are still trying to lose weight
•    39 percent of women say concerns about what they eat or weigh interfere with their happiness
•    37 percent regularly skip meals to try to lose weight
•    27 percent would be “extremely upset” if they gained just five pounds
•    26 percent cut out entire food groups
•    16 percent have dieted on 1,000 calories a day or fewer
•    13 percent smoke to lose weight
•    12 percent often eat when they’re not hungry; 49 percent sometimes do

The results of the study appear in the May 2008 issue of SELF Magazine under the title “The disorder next door.”

Besides the article that appears in SELF Magazine, Bulik and Reba-Harrelson will present their conclusions on May 17, 2008, at the 2008 International Conference on Eating Disorders, which will be held in Seattle, Washington, United States.