In brief
The 2023 Global Burden of Disease study shows Australia as the global leader in eating disorder prevalence, reporting 1,026.5 cases per 100,000 people. Overall cases worldwide rose 71% from 1990 to 2023, and the trend is projected to continue. The findings highlight a need for enhanced surveillance and prevention efforts, especially given the high female burden and young‑adolescent population impact.
A global study released on October 29, 2026 by Xinhua reports that Australia has the highest prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in the world, with an estimated 1,026.5 cases per 100,000 people. The findings come from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 analysis and were summarized on the Australian Science Media Center website and reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Global Findings
The study estimated that 18.1 million people worldwide were living with anorexia or bulimia in 2023, comprising 3.92 million with anorexia nervosa and 14.2 million with bulimia nervosa. The Global Burden of Disease analysis tracks disease prevalence— the proportion of a population affected by a condition at a given time— across countries and time periods.
Between 1990 and 2023, global cases of the two eating disorders rose 71%, a steep increase that is expected to continue through 2050. The most pronounced growth occurred in East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to the data presented in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
Gender distribution remains heavily skewed, with nearly 70% of all cases occurring in females. Age-wise, about 41% of all cases affected people aged 10 to 24, underscoring the vulnerability of adolescents and young adults.
University of Queensland epidemiologist Damian Santomauro, the study’s senior author, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Australia’s ranking was “surprising and concerning.”
Australia’s ranking was “surprising and concerning.”
Implications and Future Directions
The sharp rise in prevalence signals a pressing need to incorporate eating disorders into national mental‑health surveillance systems, prevention strategies, early‑detection protocols, and care planning. Policymakers and health practitioners are urged to adopt data‑driven approaches to tailor interventions to the at‑risk cohorts identified in the study.
Given the projected upward trajectory through 2050, experts emphasize that resource allocation and mental‑health infrastructure must evolve to meet future demand. Early screening and culturally sensitive prevention programs could mitigate the long‑term burden demonstrated by the data.
In summary, Australia’s top‑ranked prevalence of anorexia and bulimia highlights a global mental‑health epidemic that is intensifying across age groups and genders. Continued surveillance, targeted prevention, and robust care pathways will be essential to reverse the upward trend projected for the coming decades.
