Facts and Stats about Eating Disorders

Eating disorder diagnoses increased by 25 percent overall for people ages 12 to 18 compared to predictions based on pre-pandemic trends.
Newly diagnosed anorexia nervosa cases in Canada rose by about 60% during the first wave of the pandemic
Although eating disorders can be successfully treated, only 1 in 10 people with an eating disorder ever receive treatment.
Perimenopausal women were significantly more likely to report symptoms of an eating disorder compared with premenopausal women.
Women and men with trauma and PTSD have higher rates of eating disorders than the general population.
Black and Latinx LGBs have at least as high a prevalence of eating disorders as their white LGB counterparts.
Research has demonstrated that individuals with ADHD have a greater risk OF developing binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa than their peers without ADHD.
Self-identified gay males are thought to only represent 5% of the total male population, but among males who have eating disorders, 42% identify as gay.
Borderline personality has been shown to be present in about 25 percent of those with anorexia nervosa and 28 percent of those with bulimia nervosa.
Fatphobia and fat bias in the medical industry often leaves those with eating disorders untreated. Many medical practitioners still use BMI to officially diagnose those suffering from eating disorders, leaving those who do not fit the "image" of a person suffering without medical treatment.

By the time Canadians reach 40 years of age, 1 in 2 have—or have had—a mental illness.
When it comes to mental illness, youth is a critical period: most people living with a mental illness see their symptoms begin before age 18.
While mental illness accounts for about 10% of illnesses in Ontario, it receives just 7% of health care dollars.
Of Canadians aged 15 or older who report having a mental health care need in the past year, one-third state that their needs were not fully met.
About 28,000 children and youth were on waiting lists for mental health treatment in January 2020. This number has more than doubled since 2017.
39% of Ontario high-school students indicate a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (symptoms of anxiety and depression). A further 17% indicate a serious level of psychological distress.
In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health.
A recent study on mental health accessibility reported that 80% of those in the lower income bracket felt that psychological services not being covered by their provincial health plans would be a significant or very significant barrier.
Mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common types of mental disorders in Canada and have been shown to have a major impact on the daily lives of those affected.

The historical trauma carried from one generation to the next places Indigenous People at a higher risk for eating disorders
The loss of land rights, outlawing of Indigenous practices and languages, and discrimination towards Indigenous people have perpetuated a food insecurity crisis with serious implications for health and well-being. Leading to food insecurity.

2x Indigenous people living off-reserve are more than two times as likely to experience hunger and food insecurity compared with non-Indigenous Canadians.
27% of Indigenous Canadians are food insecure, compared with 11% of non-Indigenous households

Indigenous people, especially youth, die by suicide at rates much higher than non-Indigenous people.
First Nations youth aged 15 to 24 die by suicide about 6 times more often than non-Indigenous youth.
Suicide rates for Inuit youth are about 24 times the national average.

“ We don’t heal in isolation, but in a community”