Eating Disorder Statistics in Australia [2023]

Eating disorders in Australia are the major causes affecting an individual’s mental, physical, and psychological health. More than 4% of the Australian population has been living with eating disorders for the past few years. It counts to over one million people currently suffering from multiple eating disorders. In this article, you’ll see the prevalence of eating disorders in Australia and how they affect people of different ages. 

Different Eating Disorders Statistics in Australia 

In Australia, eating disorders are not of a single type – there may be Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, or Binge eating disorder. According to the eating disorder statistics in Australia, 3% are suffering from Anorexia Nervosa, and 12% from Bulimia Nervosa. Overall, 9% of the worldwide population faces significant issues with eating disorders, and Australia is on top of the list. 

Above all, the prevalence of binge eating disorder is the highest, with 47% of Australian residents suffering from this disorder. Besides this, 38% of the population is under other eating disorders that cause significant health risks to millions of Australians. Although various other factors are associated with eating disorders, most Australians are experiencing these health diseases nowadays.

Average Eating Disorders Statistics in Australia

Over one million people in Australia live with different eating disorders, of which bulimia statistics are higher after binge disorders. According to a recent survey, one-third of Australian men are experiencing eating disorders, with a 4.07% overall prevalence among males. These eating disorders jump to a higher rate of 8.60% in the case of females. Over the pandemic, thousands of people have experienced these disorders, which increased eating disorders statistics in Australia from 3.4% to 7.8%. 

Moreover, one of the common forms of eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, has been reported to have the highest mortality rate in mental illness disorders. However, other eating disorder statistics in Australia show that 20% of the people having these disorders will lead to death if left untreated. 

Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Australia 

Amidst the covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid increase in the overall eating disorders statistics in Australia. Per the reports from 2019 to 2020, there has been an immediate 48% increase in national eating disorders. That filled the hospitals and health clinics, with one-third of the Australian population suffering from this disorder. 

The statistics do not stop here. From July 2021 to the first quarter of 2022, the eating disorder prevalence further increased to 63% from the previous record. Unfortunately, these disorders bring other health-damaging diseases, including a sudden increase in mental health disorders in Australia. 

Final Thoughts

Now, over one million Australians suffer from eating disorders, including males and females, with females having a higher proportion. The best way to get rid of these disorders is to take adequate preventive measures to avoid significant health risks. All these statistics mentioned above are taken from government officials and regulatory sites so that you can trust these data sources.