In the United States, eating disorders are the second most deadly mental health issue (behind opioid use disorder). And they are more common than you may think, affecting about 9 percent of the U.S. population at some point in their lifetime. Eating disorders cause more than 10,000 deaths every year in the U.S., and 26 percent of people with eating disorders attempt suicide.
Eating disorders affect people of all ages, genders, body sizes, races, ethnicities, and sexualities. A very small portion (less than 6 percent) of people with an eating disorder are considered underweight, and individuals with a higher body weight are actually more than twice as likely to engage in disordered eating behaviors. Eating disorders affect both women and men, with 1 in 3 people with an eating disorder being male. In addition, eating disorders are found at similar or higher rates in all racial and ethnic groups as compared to white individuals. And LGBTQIA+ young people are three times as likely to have an eating disorder than non-LGBTQIA+ young people.
It is important to be informed and learn the signs. Effective treatment is available, and recovery is possible.
Types of Eating Disorders
There are many kinds of eating disorders. The most common ones include:
Anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia severely restrict how much food they eat. They may also exercise compulsively and/or purge (see bulimia nervosa below). They usually see themselves as overweight, regardless of their body size. Anorexia can cause thinning of the bones, infertility, and ultimately heart, brain, or multi-organ failure and death.
Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia is characterized by binge eating (devouring large amounts of food uncontrollably) and then purging (vomiting, fasting, laxatives, compulsive exercise, or other methods). Purging can cause an inflamed or sore throat, tooth decay, acid reflux, and severe dehydration. Ultimately, bulimia may create electrolyte imbalances that can lead to stroke or heart attack.
Binge eating disorder
People who have binge eating disorder (or BED) will eat large amounts of food at one sitting; however, they do not purge after a binge as in bulimia. They may have feelings of shame, disgust, or guilt about their binges. BED can increase the risk of complications like heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Someone with ARFID only eats a very limited number of foods, but this condition is not related to body shape or image. AFRID may be dismissed as “picky eating,” especially in children. Individuals with ARFID don’t ingest enough calories to develop properly or even maintain basic body functions, which can create dangerous electrolyte imbalances.
Advice for Parents and Caregivers
Tragically, eating disorders are becoming more and more common in children and adolescents.
- By age 7, one in four children has engaged in some kind of dieting behavior.
- 53 percent of American girls report being unhappy with their bodies at age 13 and 78 percent at age 17.
- 95 percent eating disorders start by age 25.
As a parent or guardian, you’re better positioned than anyone else to notice changes in your child’s eating patterns or an ongoing obsession with food or their weight. If you have concerns, talk to your child’s pediatrician. Children are also screened for eating disorders at their annual well visit. If their doctor feels there are warning signs, they can guide you on what to do next.
If your child has an eating disorder, they will need to learn how to change their relationship with food. And you’ll need to learn how to support them along the road to wellness. Effective care for eating disorders in young people often includes a multi-disciplinary team approach and support for family members.
The Role of Body Image
Many kids, teenagers, and adults have body image issues, and this can play a big role in anorexia and bulimia. There is so much pressure in our society to look a certain way — coming not just from peer interactions, but also social media, TV, and other sources.
Kids and teenagers especially may compare themselves to unrealistic ideals and try doing something drastic to look the way they think they’re supposed to. Or even to fit into a particular weight class for their favorite sport.
Effectively Treating an Eating Disorder
The best approach for treating an eating disorder is a customized treatment plan for each individual. The care should be centered on proven treatment approaches and provided by a multi-disciplinary team, with the individual taking part in their treatment along with their loved ones. More advanced cases may require hospitalization, an outpatient treatment program (where you attend the program during the day and go home at night), or a residential treatment program.
We know it can be overwhelming to try to find help to treat conditions like an eating disorder. That’s why we offer a variety of resources, care options, and support.
Our Behavioral Health Care Navigation team is ready to support Independence Blue Cross (IBX) members and offer guidance that is personalized for each individual. Our clinical staff can consult with you to match you with an in-network provider who fits your needs. They can even directly schedule an appointment for you.
We contract with high-quality providers that specialize in eating disorders, such as Equip, to ensure members have access to personalized and proven care. Several of these providers are committed to having appointments available quickly for IBX members — usually within 7 days.
To reach our Behavioral Health Care Navigation team, IBX members can call 1-800-688-1911.
If you prefer, you can also search for a network provider online using our Provider Finder. You can also call the National Eating Disorders Helpline at 1-888-375-7767 if you need help.
Equip is an independent company.
