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Study reports anorexia and bulimia incidence rose 71% since 1990

MIT Technology Review reports an estimated 18.1 million people had anorexia or bulimia by 2023, and a small earlier study found 30% of people with eating disorders had used GLP-1 drugs.

Updated Oct 30, 2026 · 10:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • A JAMA Psychiatry study reports global anorexia and bulimia incidence rose 71% from 1990 to 2023.[MIT Technology Review]
  • An estimated 18.1 million people had one of the two disorders by 2023, with 21.8 million projected by 2050.[MIT Technology Review]
  • A small earlier study found 30% of people with eating disorders had used GLP-1 drugs, and 10% appeared to have misused them.[MIT Technology Review]
  • Whether GLP-1 drugs are driving the rise is unconfirmed, since the GLP-1 data come from a small study.[MIT Technology Review]

Key facts

  • A new report suggests global incidence of anorexia and bulimia rose 71% from 1990 to 2023.[MIT Technology Review]
  • An estimated 18.1 million people globally were living with anorexia or bulimia by 2023.[MIT Technology Review]
  • The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry.[MIT Technology Review]
  • The two conditions could affect 21.8 million people by 2050, according to researchers' projections.[MIT Technology Review]
  • A Gallup survey suggested 15% of Americans had used a GLP-1 drug for weight loss.[MIT Technology Review]
  • A small earlier study led by Cheri Levinson and colleagues found 30% of people with eating disorders had used GLP-1 drugs.[MIT Technology Review]
  • In that small study, 10% of people with eating disorders appeared to have misused the drugs.[MIT Technology Review]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether GLP-1 drugs are worsening eating disorders is not established; the drug-use figures come from a small study.[MIT Technology Review]
  • The 2050 figure of 21.8 million is a projection, not an observed count.[MIT Technology Review]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.