Are the rates of eating orders different across different countries?

Yes, the rates of eating disorders differ across countries and regions, influenced by a complex mix of cultural, socioeconomic, genetic, and healthcare factors. But as awareness grows and research expands globally, we’re learning that eating disorders are not just a “Western problem.” They affect people in every part of the world — though how they show up, get diagnosed, and are treated can vary widely.

Here’s what the data and research suggest:

Global Differences in Eating Disorder Rates

High-Income, Western Countries (U.S., Canada, Australia, UK, parts of Europe)

• Higher reported prevalence, especially of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

• Influences: thin-ideal body culture, high media exposure, diet culture, social comparison.

• Also, more research and diagnosis infrastructure, which may inflate apparent rates compared to less studied regions.

Middle-Income Countries (e.g., Brazil, South Africa, India, Mexico)

• Rising rates of eating disorders, especially among urban youth, as Western beauty ideals and global media take hold.

• Binge eating and body dissatisfaction are increasingly common, especially among adolescent girls.

• Underdiagnosis is common — stigma, limited access to mental health care, and lack of trained providers play a role.

East and Southeast Asia (e.g., Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore)

• Growing concern over eating disorders, particularly anorexia nervosa in young women.

• Some cases present without the Western drive for thinness — instead driven by perfectionism, control, or somatic distress.

• Cultural silence and shame can contribute to late diagnosis.

Africa and the Middle East

• Historically underrepresented in research, but new studies show eating disorders are present and increasing, particularly in urban or affluent populations.

• In some areas, body image ideals may differ (e.g., preference for fuller bodies), but binge-purge patterns and ARFID are increasingly recognized.

• Cultural stigma may prevent open discussion.

Why the Differences?

Eating disorders are biopsychosocial illnesses — meaning they are shaped by:

• Biological vulnerability (e.g., genetics, temperament)

• Psychological factors (e.g., anxiety, trauma, perfectionism)

• Social/Cultural influences (e.g., body image ideals, media, stigma)

So differences across countries reflect:

• Cultural attitudes toward body size, food, and control

• The role of family and collectivism vs. individualism

• Access to mental health services

• Reporting and research differences

Are the Disorders Themselves Different?

In some regions, people present with “non-fat-phobic anorexia” — they restrict food without expressing a desire to be thin. Others may describe somatic complaints (like stomach pain or bloating) instead of explicitly body image concerns.

Disorders like ARFID and binge eating disorder are often underdiagnosed or misunderstood in many countries — especially where thinness is not the dominant beauty ideal.

Data Snapshot (based on global studies):

• Lifetime prevalence (estimates):

  • U.S. and Western Europe: ~4–6% (higher for women, but rates in men rising)

  • Japan: Anorexia rates similar to the U.S., bulimia slightly lower

  • Brazil: High rates of body dissatisfaction; BED increasingly diagnosed

  • Middle East: Disordered eating behaviors in up to 30% of university students in some studies

  • India & Pakistan: Fewer cases diagnosed, but rising concern among adolescent girls

(Note: These numbers vary by methodology, access to care, and cultural reporting differences.)

Final Thought

Yes — rates of eating disorders vary globally, but they exist everywhere. As global awareness grows, so does the need for culturally competent, accessible treatment that recognizes the full range of how eating disorders look across bodies, communities, and cultures.

Recovery is not just for Western, white, thin girls.
Eating disorders are everywhere — and so is the need for care.