Expert: Joanne - 1/6/2007

Question
I often hear that the Unites States is "the fattest country" in the world. I was wondering specifically what country has the highest number of bulimics in the world.
Thanks!
Chris

Answer
I've tried researching this for you, however, I have been unlucky in finding anything!

I'd imagine, from what I've read, incidence rates are more likely to be high in the Western, developed world, such as U.S, U.K and a lot of western europe, etc.

Our societies have a habit of portraying thin as beautiful, and perfect, which will have an impact on incidence rates.  I also believe that our eating habits will contribute.  We have so much fast and junk food, that we are more likely to use food as an emotional coping mechanism, and just generally eat worse, which leads to weight problems, which can lead to eating disorders.  Asia tends to have a better all round diet, eating a lot of fresh food, etc.  And a lot of Africa, etc, embrace large size!

I know this is a generalisation, and I may not be correct, but I think that due to better eating habits, or just different views in what is beautiful will determine the number of eating disorders.

I think the problem in trying to work out incidence in each country is so many eating disorders go undiscovered!  People can have bulimia without even their closest family realising!  I also think there are so many facilities in treating eating disorders that it would be hard to keep track.  Some people will be treated by health services, a lot will be treated privately, and then there will be many that are being treated as outpatients, and maybe not being treated for bulimia as the main concern, but as a symptom of something else.  So I'd imagine it is hard to actually put figures on that kind of thing!  So many people are treated for disordered eating patterns without being officially diagnosed as anorexic or bulimic simply because they do not fit the exact criteria for them!

Hope this has helped slightly!  Sorry I couldn't be more exact!

Holly