Eating Disorder Recovery Rates - 2025 Report
This report shares eating disorder recovery rates as of June 2025. Our team compiled it using data from the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), The National Institute of Mental health (NIMH), Academy for Eating Disorders (AED), The World Health Organization (WHO), and a number of third party health data bases.
Recovery from an eating disorder, is broadly understood as being free from eating disorder symptoms, accepting one’s body shape and size, and no longer engaging in self-destructive behaviors. It also involves building a healthy relationship with food, body image, and psychological challenges. While the definition of recovery is unique to each individual, recovery ultimately stands as the shared goal—it signifies freedom from the relentless mental, emotional, and physical strain that eating disorders impose.
How Common Are Eating Disorders
An estimated 9% of the U.S. population — or about 30 million people — will experience an eating disorder at some point in their lives. If you add up the numbers from individual diagnoses, that total may seem even higher. That’s because many people are diagnosed with more than one eating disorder over the course of their lives, and diagnostic categories can shift — especially with conditions like Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED).
These figures likely underestimate the true scope of the problem. Eating disorders are often underdiagnosed, overlooked, or misunderstood — in part due to stigma, limited access to care, and how long it can take someone to seek help.
Ultimately, eating disorders are not rare conditions. They affect people of all genders, ages, races, body sizes, and backgrounds. The table below offers an updated look at how common each diagnosis is in the United States.
Eating Disorder Prevalence USA: 2025
Notes:
While Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are often the most widely known diagnosis, they’re are among the least common. The most common eating disorder is OSFED, followed by Binge-Eating Disorder (BED) and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa.
OSFED describes individuals who experience significant eating disorder symptoms that don’t fit neatly into one diagnostic category but are just as serious. For example, a person who regularly engages in purging behaviors (such as vomiting or laxative use) but does not engage in binge eating episodes as frequently as what’s required for a full Binge Eating Disorder diagnosis, may fall into the OSFED category.
Atypical Anorexia mirrors the symptoms, behaviors, and severity of anorexia nervosa, with one key difference: the individual is not underweight. Fewer than 6% of people with eating disorders are medically diagnosed as “underweight”.
ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food intake) is a relatively common eating disorder that differs significantly from others in one important way: it’s not driven by concerns about weight or body image. Instead, food avoidance typically stems from things like sensory sensitivities (such as aversion to taste, texture, or smell), a lack of interest in eating, or a fear of adverse consequences like choking or vomiting.
Recovery Rates by Eating Disorder: 2025
Notes:
When we examine recovery rates across different diagnoses, one consistent pattern emerges: treatment significantly improves the chances of recovery. In fact, evidence shows that individuals receiving professional care are two to three times more likely to recover than those who do not.
For example:
Anorexia Nervosa: Approximately 20–30% recover without treatment, compared to up to 70% with treatment.
Binge-Eating Disorder: Approximately 30–40% recover without treatment, versus 80% with treatment.
Recovery from an eating disorder is not a quick or linear process. Generally across all eating disorders, full recovery can take 5 to 7 years with appropriate treatment.
Physical restoration often takes about 1.
Neurobiological healing occurs over 1.5 to 2 years.
Many individuals experience meaningful progress and symptom relief within the first year of treatment. The extended timeline reflects the ongoing work required to sustain recovery and minimize the risk of relapse.
Factors that improve recovery outcomes:
Evidence-Based, Multidisciplinary Treatment: Recovery is most successful when care is delivered by a team offering medical, nutritional, and psychological support grounded in evidence-based practices.
Early Diagnosis: Timely identification prevents medical complications and reduces the risk of disordered behaviors becoming deeply ingrained.
Treatment of Co-Occurring Conditions: Many individuals also struggle with anxiety, depression, OCD, or PTSD, which can fuel or sustain eating disorders. Addressing these alongside the eating disorder improves quality of life and strengthens long-term recovery.
Barriers that hinder recovery outcomes:
Stigma and Misconceptions: Harmful stereotypes—such as the belief that eating disorders only affect thin, young, white women—create shame, isolation, and discourage individuals from seeking help. Marginalized groups (including men, people in larger bodies, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals) often face misdiagnosis or dismissal by healthcare providers, further delaying care.
Lack of Diagnosis: Subtle symptoms and weight bias can lead to underdiagnosis. Without proper recognition, individuals miss opportunities for early intervention and specialized treatment.
Delayed Treatment: The longer an eating disorder persists untreated, the more entrenched behaviors and psychological distress become, making recovery more difficult and reducing motivation over time.
Financial and Insurance Barriers: Limited insurance coverage for comprehensive care—particularly for higher levels of treatment—can make ongoing care financially unsustainable, increasing relapse risk and interrupting recovery progress.
Key Takeaways on Eating Disorder Recovery Rates
Eating disorder recovery rates vary widely across diagnoses, but the data shows one consistent pattern: evidence-based treatment significantly increases the likelihood of full recovery. In many cases, individuals who engage in professional care are two to three times more likely to recover than those who do not receive treatment.
Early diagnosis, timely intervention, and comprehensive care that addresses both the eating disorder and any co-occurring conditions are strongly associated with higher recovery rates. While full recovery often takes 5 to 7 years, meaningful symptom improvement is commonly seen within the first year of treatment.
If you’re seeking specialized support or exploring treatment options, it’s important to work with experienced providers who offer comprehensive, evidence-based care tailored to your needs, that’s exactly what we do. You can contact us here.
Resources:
National Eating Disorders Association. Statistics & Research on Eating Disorders. National Eating Disorders Association. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics-research-eating-disorders
National Institute of Mental Health. Eating Disorders. National Institutes of Health. Updated 2022. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders
Academy for Eating Disorders. Research-Practice Integration. Academy for Eating Disorders. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.aedweb.org
World Health Organization. Mental health and substance use. World Health Organization. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use
The Renfrew Center. About Eating Disorders. The Renfrew Center. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.renfrewcenter.com
Eating Disorders Review. Articles and Current Research. Eating Disorders Review. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.eatingdisordersreview.com
Journal of Eating Disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders. BioMed Central. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com
The Butterfly Foundation. About Eating Disorders. The Butterfly Foundation. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.thebutterflyfoundation.org.au
Eating Disorders Coalition. Facts About Eating Disorders: What the Research Shows. Eating Disorders Coalition. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.eatingdisorderscoalition.org
American Psychological Association. Eating Disorders. American Psychological Association. Accessed June 20, 2025. https://www.apa.org/topics/eating-disorders
