Study Reports 75% of Women Have Disordered Eating

An online survey of over 4,000 women, conducted by Self Magazine and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shows that 65% of American women between the ages of 25 and 45 report having disordered eating behaviors and an additional 10% report symptoms consistent with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The study's researchers reported that the results cut across age, race, and ethnic lines.

Here are some interesting statistics gleaned by the study:

67% of women (excluding those with actual eating disorders) are trying to lose weight
53% of dieters are already at a healthy weight and are still trying to lose weight
39% of women say concerns about what they eat or weigh interfere with their happiness
37% regularly skip meals to try to lose weight
27% would be “extremely upset” if they gained just five pounds
26% cut out entire food groups
16% have dieted on 1,000 calories a day or fewer
13% smoke to lose weight
12% often eat when they’re not hungry; 49 percent sometimes do