Anorexia, Bulimia Rates Have Soared in Japan
Originally published by Reuters Health, September 25, 2001
NEW YORK — Anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders are 10 times more common in Japan now than they were 20 years ago. What's more, there is a tendency towards earlier onset of such disorders, which are even occurring in prepubertal children, Dr. Gen Komaki of the National Institute of Mental Health in Japan told Reuters Health.
Dr. Komaki and colleagues surveyed more than 1000 medical facilities across the nation to investigate the number of patients diagnosed with eating disorders. They assessed the facilities in 1980, 1985, 1993 and 1998.
In 1980, approximately 2 of every 100,000 individuals were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the investigators found. That number increased slightly in 1985 to roughly 3 individuals per 100,000.
In 1993, however, about 5 of every 100,000 individuals were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. And a mere 5 years later, that number jumped to almost 19 per 100,000, Dr. Komaki's team reports.
The dramatic increase in eating disorders can be attributed to both socio-cultural and economic factors, according to the researchers. In Japan, there has been a shift towards a more westernized and urbanized lifestyle, and a change from the traditional "inner" sense of value towards valuing of "appearance" or "performance," Dr. Komaki pointed out.
"One of the greatest reasons for the rapid increase of bulimia nervosa…is that weight and shape concerns are strengthened among females by the mass media, as it always presents 'thinness is beauty,'" he said. "Besides, fast-food stores are mushrooming nationwide."
Other possible contributing factors include the accelerated physical and psychological maturation of Japanese youth, increased psychological stress among women, and increasing rates of divorce and other family problems, all of which may interact to influence the rate of eating disorders, Dr. Komaki said.
The study findings were reported last month during the 16th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine in Goteborg, Sweden.
