Who is at risk?
People who develop an eating disorder are very often normal, average people. From 85 to 95 % of people passing through eating disorders are young women between the ages of twelve and twenty-five. There are however both older and younger exceptions.
Research suggests that at least 10% of the people with eating disorders are male, possibly more. Researchers are just now beginning to determine how widespread these problems are in men and boys.

Are some people at special risk?

Because of intense demands for thinness and continuous focus on body image, some people are at high risk for eating disorders including; socialites, dancers, gymnasts, runners, models, actresses, entertainers, and male homosexuals.
It is important to note that a person may not be aware of the vicious cycle that they are wrapped in and it is not just a question of snapping out of it or talking nonsense. Those with eating disorders often use food to self-medicate painful feelings and distressing moods. Dieting, bingeing, purging, exercising, and other strange behaviors are not random craziness. They are misguided and ineffective attempts to take charge in a world that seems overwhelming.