Cited by 456Eating Disorders and BehaviorsNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorChild Nutrition and Feeding Issues

The epidemiology of eating disorders in six European countries: results of the ESEMeD-WMH project.

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Preti, Antonio, Girolamo, Giovanni de, Vilagut, Gemma, Alonso, Jordi, Graaf, Ron de, Bruffaerts, Ronny, Demyttenaere, Koen, Pinto-Meza, Alejandra +2 more·2009·Journal of Psychiatric Research

Abstract

Few data are available to estimate the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) and their correlates in the community. This paper reports data on EDs obtained in the framework of the ESEMeD project, aimed at investigating the prevalence of non-psychotic mental disorders in six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain), using a new version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The ESEMeD study was a general population cross-sectional household survey. In total, 21,425 respondents aged 18 or older provided data for the project between January 2001 and August 2003. A subsample (N=4139) underwent a detailed investigation on EDs. Lifetime estimated prevalence of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, sub-threshold binge eating disorder, and any binge eating were 0.48%, 0.51%, 1.12%, 0.72%, and 2.15%, respectively, and they were 3-8 times higher among women for all EDs. However, since people under 18 were excluded from this study, our prevalence should be taken as lower-bound estimate of real frequencies. Indeed, cumulative lifetime prevalence analysis showed that the majority of eating disorders had their initial onset between 10 and 20 years of age. Role impairment and comorbidity with other mental disorders were highly common, yet only small proportions of patients with a lifetime diagnosis of EDs requested medical treatment. It still has to be proven whether early diagnostic identification and access to specialized care can reduce the burden caused by these disorders.

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  1. Spitzer RL, Devlin M, Walsh BT, Hasin D, Wing R, Marcus M, et al. Binge eating disorder: a multi-site field trial of the diagnostic criteria. International Journal of Eating Disorders 1992;11:191-203.

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Authors
Preti, A., Girolamo, G. D., Vilagut, G., Alonso, J., Graaf, R. D., Bruffaerts, R., Demyttenaere, K., Pinto-Meza, A., Haro, J. M., & Morosini, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Cagliari (IT)
  • Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli (IT)
  • Municipal Institute for Medical Research (ES)
  • Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES)
  • Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
Venue
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-09
Volume
43
Issue
14
Pages
1125-1132
ISSN
0022-3956 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2125345977
Cited by
456
References
73
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 35 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 38
FWCI
25.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Psychiatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Lirias (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • UNICA IRIS Institutional Research Information System (University of Cagliari) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • World Health Organization
  • European Commission (QLG5–1999-01042, SANCO2004123, 2004123)
  • Generalitat de Catalunya (01042)
  • Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (SAF 2000 158-CE)
  • Regione Piemonte (00/0028)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS 00/0028)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
Keywords
eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, lifetime prevalence, sex differences, age of onset, role impairment, comorbidities, help-seeking
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Mental Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Disability Evaluation, Europe, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, International Cooperation, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Cohort Studies, Prevalence, Age of Onset, Young Adult

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