9 in 10 bulimia patients are women: report

More than 90 percent of Koreans treated for bulimia nervosa in 2013 were women, and about 70 percent of them were in their 20s and 30s, a report showed.

The statistics may be linked with the country’s strong emphasis on young women’s personal appearance, said psychiatrist Lee Seon-gu from the National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital.

“Women in their 20s tend to be stressed the most about getting a job and getting married, and they are often pressured by society to look attractive and stay fit,” he said in a statement.

“Many feel they should undergo plastic surgery to be accepted and succeed. And it is common for young women who were anorexic during their teen years to suffer from bulimia nervosa in their 20s and 30s.”

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by an attempt to purge the intake, such as by vomiting, or excessive exercise ― mostly because of an extensive concern with body image and weight.

Many patients with bulimia nervosa have an additional psychiatric disorder, such as anxiety or mood disorders. Antidepressants are commonly used to treat bulimia nervosa.

According to the National Health Insurance Service, a total of 1,796 Koreans sought medical help for the eating disorder in 2013. Among them, 93.8 percent ― 1,684 people ― were women, while only 6.2 percent were men.

Among the female patients, those in their 20s and 30s accounted for 71 percent of the total. Most male patients were also in their 20s and 30s.

The number of bulimia cases in Korea rose from 1,501 in 2008 to 1,796 in 2013.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)