5.3.3 Incidence of symptoms of eating disorders among girls, Ontario, Canada, 2001
| Symptoms of eating disorders | No symptoms of eating disorders | |
|---|---|---|
| Incidence of symptoms | 27 | 73 |
Source: CICH graphic created using data from Jones, J.M., Bennett, S., Olmsted, M.P., Lawson, M.L., Rodin, G. (2001). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours in teenage girls: a school-based study. CMAJ Canadian Medical Association Journal, 165(5), 547-52.
An Ontario study found that 27% of girls aged 12 to 18 years had significant symptoms of eating disorders including binging or purging, or both.
Those who were on a diet were 3.3 times more likely to report binge eating than girls who were not dieting and were 5.7 time more likely to report purging.1
Only 1.6% of the total sample had ever received care or support for disordered eating attitudes or behaviours.1
Only 4% of the girls who reported binge eating and 6% of the girls who reported purging had ever received any assessment or treatment for their problems.1
1Jones, J.M., Bennett, S., Olmsted, M.P., Lawson, M.L., Rodin, G. (2001). Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours in teenage girls: a school-based study. CMAJ Canadian Medical Association Journal, 165(5), 547-52.