Global Burden of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, 1990 to 2023, With Forecasts to 2050

Importance: Eating disorders are a major cause of nonfatal mental health burden, yet global evidence on their long-term trends, geographic distribution, and future trajectories remains limited. Objective: To estimate the global, regional, and national prevalence and disability burden of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa-and mortality attributable to anorexia nervosa-from 1990 to 2023, and to forecast prevalence to 2050. Design, Setting, and Participants: Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 methods, data were synthesized from systematic literature reviews, population surveys, and vital registration systems. Estimates were produced for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, with forecasts through 2050. These data were analyzed from October 2025 to August 2026. Exposure: Anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Counts and age-standardized rates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and anorexia nervosa mortality, reported by age, sex, and location. Results: In 2023, an estimated 18.1 million people (95% UI, 13.9-24.0) globally were living with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, of whom 12.6 million (69.4%) were female, 5.5 million were male (30.6%), and 41.2% were aged 10 to 24 years. These cases accounted for 3.83 million DALYs (95% UI, 2.23-5.69). Since 1990, the global number of prevalent cases increased by 71.0%, while age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates rose by about 21%. Females experienced substantially higher prevalence and DALY rates than males. The highest age-standardized prevalence rates were observed in high-income regions, particularly Australasia and Western Europe, whereas the largest relative increases in age-standardized prevalence occurred in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Forecasts indicate continued increases in prevalent cases through 2050. Conclusions and Relevance: This GBD 2023 analysis found that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa contribute substantially to global nonfatal health loss. These findings support the integration of eating disorders into mental health surveillance, prevention, and service planning worldwide.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
JAMA Psychiatry
Published
2026-10-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.3457
Primary Topic
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Global Burden of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, 1990 to 2023, With Forecasts to 2050

Benedetta Armocida, Bezawit Abeje Alemayehu, Oladipo Vincent Akinmade, Omar Al Omari et al.
5 links
JAMA Psychiatry
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
article

Global Burden of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, 1990 to 2023, With Forecasts to 2050

Benedetta Armocida, Bezawit Abeje Alemayehu, Oladipo Vincent Akinmade, Omar Al Omari, Kenni Wojujutari Ajele, Khaled M. Aboshanab, Ruhai Bai, Abdulelah Mastour Aldhahir, Samah W. Al‐Jabi, Damian Francesco Santomauro, Suzanne Lyn Barker-Collo, Wondu Feyisa Balcha, Joseph Uy Almazan, Amr Selim Abu Lila, Jorge Arias de la Torre, Shams M. F. Al-Anzi, Salome Wumpini Agordoh, José Roberto Balmori de la Miyar, Zaid Altaany, Sabah Al-Marwani, Yasmin A. Altwaijri, Lucas Guimarães Abreu, Bernard Kwadwo Yeboah Asiamah-Asare, Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad, Rajaa Mohammad Al-Raddadi, Dickson Abanimi Amugsi, Oluwabusayomi O. Akeju, Salah Thabit Al Awaidy, Gustavo Aires de Arruda, Wọlé Akóṣílè, Demelash Areda, Adekola Saheed Ayodeji, Tarek Tawfik Amin, Syed Amir Ashraf, Danilo Arnone, Miracle Ayomikun Adesina, Camila Ospina Ayala, Salam Bani Hani, Shakeel Ahmed, Yatan Pal Singh Balhara, Anayochukwu Edward Anyasodor, Babatope Oluwadamilare Adebiyi, Hana J Abukhadijah, Azadeh Bashiri, Percival Delali Agordoh, Sameer Abdulmalik Alkubati, Samuel Babajide Atoyebi, B Sheeba, Ahmad H. AlKhatib, Obed Adonteng‐Kissi, Mohammad S. Abu‐Mahfouz, Habeeb Omoponle Adewuyi, Bandar S. Alsaif, José Luís Ayuso‐Mateos, Wanyue Dong, Muath A. Alammar, Eman Alshawish, Olumide A Abiodun, Mohammed ALBashtawy, Richard Gyan Aboagye, Amadou Barrow, Aleksandr Y. Aravkin, Ashley E Akrami, Baidaa Alhalabi, Muhammad Irfan Bashir, Hossein Arabi, Alpha Umaru Bai-Sesay, Mohammad Ahmmad Mahmoud Al Zoubi, Olaitan Johnson Balogun, Ashraf Alhumaidi, Hasan Aalruz, Nuhu Lawan Adamu, Xu Wang, Ahmad Al Athamneh, Nabiy Arystan, Fadwa Naji Alhalaiqa, Md Faisal Ahmed, Farhat Bano, César Agostinis Sobrinho, Abdalkarem Fedgash Alsharari, Dr. Prapti Anjana, Ahmed Naif Ali, Hamid Alinejad Rokny, Ali Ahmed, Duaa Fayiz Al Maghaireh, Yonas Alemu Atra, Mohammad Jamil Mohammad Alhawajreh, Amaha K. Adhanu, Khabir Ahmad, A.H. Sruthi Anil Kumar, Mohammad Khursheed Alam, Bryndís Björk Ásgeirsdóttir, Mohammed Usman Ali, Shahid Bashir, Abhishek Anil, GBD Eating Disorders Collaborators, Aihua Zhang, Eid M. S. Azzam, Masoud Aman Mohammadi
article en

Abstract

Importance: Eating disorders are a major cause of nonfatal mental health burden, yet global evidence on their long-term trends, geographic distribution, and future trajectories remains limited. Objective: To estimate the global, regional, and national prevalence and disability burden of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa-and mortality attributable to anorexia nervosa-from 1990 to 2023, and to forecast prevalence to 2050. Design, Setting, and Participants: Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 methods, data were synthesized from systematic literature reviews, population surveys, and vital registration systems. Estimates were produced for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, with forecasts through 2050. These data were analyzed from October 2025 to August 2026. Exposure: Anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Counts and age-standardized rates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and anorexia nervosa mortality, reported by age, sex, and location. Results: In 2023, an estimated 18.1 million people (95% UI, 13.9-24.0) globally were living with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, of whom 12.6 million (69.4%) were female, 5.5 million were male (30.6%), and 41.2% were aged 10 to 24 years. These cases accounted for 3.83 million DALYs (95% UI, 2.23-5.69). Since 1990, the global number of prevalent cases increased by 71.0%, while age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates rose by about 21%. Females experienced substantially higher prevalence and DALY rates than males. The highest age-standardized prevalence rates were observed in high-income regions, particularly Australasia and Western Europe, whereas the largest relative increases in age-standardized prevalence occurred in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Forecasts indicate continued increases in prevalent cases through 2050. Conclusions and Relevance: This GBD 2023 analysis found that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa contribute substantially to global nonfatal health loss. These findings support the integration of eating disorders into mental health surveillance, prevention, and service planning worldwide.

JAMA Psychiatry
Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (AE), Ain Shams University (EG), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Northwestern University (US), University of Geneva (CH), Higher Colleges of Technology (AE), Edith Cowan University (AU), Reykjavík University (IS), JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (IN), Birmingham City University (GB), Midwestern University (US), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur (IN), Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine (CN), Homs University (SY), University of British Columbia (CA), University of Lahore (PK), Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan (JO), SRM Institute of Science and Technology (IN), Cairo University (EG), Deakin University (AU), Charles Sturt University (AU), University of Auckland (NZ), Chulalongkorn University (TH), The University of Queensland (AU), Hawler Medical University (IQ), University of Calgary (CA), An-Najah National University (PS), University of the Gambia (GM), Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK), University of Ibadan (NG), King's College London (GB), King Abdulaziz University (SA), University of the Witwatersrand (ZA), University of Karachi (PK), Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (IR), Jamia Hamdard (IN), Jouf University (SA), University of Washington (US), Shaqra University (SA), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur (IN), University of Johannesburg (ZA), University of Health and Allied Sciences (GH), North-West University (ZA), Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT), King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (SA), Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges (SA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ES), Babcock University (NG), Al al-Bayt University (JO), Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (US), UNSW Sydney (AU), University of Florida (US), Charotar University of Science and Technology (IN), University of California San Diego (US), Nanjing University of Science and Technology (CN), Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (US), Petra University (JO), University at Albany, State University of New York (US), University of Warwick (GB), University of Ha'il (SA), Nanjing Children's Hospital (CN), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES), Ministry of Health and Sanitation (SL), King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (SA), Universidade Politécnica da Guarda (PT), Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (AU), University Hospital of Geneva (CH), Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (AE), Universidad Anáhuac (MX), All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar (IN), Armed Forces College of Medicine (EG), African Population and Health Research Center (KE), Ministry of Health (OM), Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (CN), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES), Urmia University of Medical Sciences (IR), Bangladesh Institute of Innovative Health Research (BD), Addis Ababa University (ET), Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (BR), Jahangirnagar University (BD), Salahaddin University-Erbil (IQ), Sultan Qaboos University (OM), Hamad Medical Corporation (QA), Sultan Zainal Abidin University (MY), University of York (GB), Bahir Dar University (ET), Qatar University (QA), Nazarbayev University (KZ), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (IN), University of Maiduguri (NG), Universidade de Pernambuco (BR), University of Abuja (NG), Nanjing Medical University (CN), Yarmouk University (JO), University of the Western Cape (ZA), Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN), Northwest A&F University (CN), Jazan University (SA), National University of Sciences and Technology (PK), Ottawa University (US), Irbid National University (JO)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, Michigan State University, National Center for Child Health and Development, University of Washington, Tulane University, Johns Hopkins University, Universität Basel, Norges Teknisk-Naturvitenskapelige Universitet, Jazan University, Arabian Gulf University, National University of Ireland, McMaster University, Teesside University, Anglia Ruskin University, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Northeastern States Research Cooperative, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Applied Science Private University, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Trường Đại học Nguyễn Tất Thành, Trường Đại học Duy Tân, Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, Child Mind Institute, Chandigarh University, Saveetha Dental College, University of Petra, Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional, York University, University of Alberta, University of Leicester, Imperial College London, King's College London, University of Oxford, La Trobe University, Coventry University, University of Hertfordshire, University of the West of England, University of Limerick, Trinity College Dublin, University of New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney, Deakin University, Victoria University, University of Queensland, Ain Shams University, King Saud University, Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, Capital Medical University, Central South University, Chulalongkorn University, University of the Western Cape, Universitat de València, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, Qatar University, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Karunya University, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Henan University, Haramaya University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Universitetet i Bergen, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Universität Bielefeld, Anna University, Medizinische Universität Wien, Bahir Dar University, United Arab Emirates University, Universidad de la República Uruguay, Universitas Indonesia, University of Dhaka, University of Johannesburg, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Universidade do Porto, University of Cape Town, Arak University of Medical Sciences, China Medical University, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Qassim University, University of the Philippines, Shaqra University, Università di Pisa, Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie "Carol Davila" Bucureşti, Peking University, Fondazione I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Università degli Studi di Udine, Zhejiang University of Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Chung Shan Medical University, Zayed University, University of Hail, Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Charotar University of Science and Technology, Southern Medical University, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Universitetet i Agder, Nelson Mandela University, Rajshahi University, Université de Sfax, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Alfaisal University, Ajman University, University of Nicosia, Universidad de Los Lagos, Debre Tabor University, National Institutes of Health, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, University of California, San Diego, Feinberg School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Queensland Brain Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam, Sunway University, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Human Resource Development
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Eating Disorders and Behaviors
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon