Eating disorders: Highest mortality rate of any mental disorders among Americans

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Just when you thought society and politicians were finally on the right track highlighting and blaming the gun-mental health connection. Surprise! There's a different killer at work among persons with mental disorders...

In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from clinically significant eating disorders, according to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Web site. On college campuses 5 to 20 percent of college females and 1 to 7 percent of college males have been reported as suffering from eating disorders. And four out of 10 individuals have either personally experienced an eating disorder or know someone who has.


Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder and 30 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. According to Claire Mysko, the association’s interim chief executive officer, “eating disorders can hide in plain sight and frequently go undiagnosed until someone’s health is at significant risk.

According to nationaleatingdisorders.com, educating students on getting help for eating disorders has become crucial. Eating disorders can often go undiagnosed, and the rate at which they have been diagnosed in recent years has increased dramatically.

These are life-threatening bio-psycho-social illnesses, not a ‘lifestyle choice.’ It’s time to get beyond the stigma and stereotypes and recognize the diverse experiences of people affected by disordered eating.

http://www.albanydailystar.com/health/eating-disorders-have-highest-mortality-rate-of-any-mental-disorder-among-americans-mckinney-tech-part-16861.html