Eating disorders and other issues go hand-in-hand

As if having anorexia or bulimia isn’t devastating enough, other problems commonly accompany these eating disorders.

And girls don’t have to have full-blown eating disorders (those that fulfill the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV) to be especially vulnerable to depression, anxiety and high risk behaviors.

A study of 2,000 girls published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found:

- One out of 10, 15 to 17-year-old girls showed symptoms of eating disorders.
- 34 percent were sexually active before 16 years old (twice that of their peers), and the likelihood of pregnancy and abortion also increased.
- 28 percent experienced depression in their 20’s, compared with 11 percent of those with no eating disorder symptoms.
- The chances of suffering from anxiety increased six-fold.
- Alcohol and amphetamine dependency risk increased two-fold.

Other research has also demonstrated that anxiety, substance abuse and depression often co-occur with eating disorders.

This research isn’t only important for shedding light on eating disorders, but it also serves as a guide for physicians, parents and loved ones, so that they can recognize the warning signs that something is wrong.

Thankfully, eating disorders are treatable, so it's vital to get the proper diagnosis and treatment for you or your loved one. Here’s a valuable resource on eating disorders and approaching a loved one if you suspect he or she is suffering.

For more valuable resources on eating disorders, consult the following WEGO Health pages:

Eating disorders
Information on eating disorders
Eating disorder treatment