Sexual Abuse & Eating Disorders
Feeling A Bit Oppressed Lately?
Is it true that most people with anorexia have experienced sexual abuse?
Approximately 30% of females with anorexia (and up to 65% of all eating disorder patients) report a history of childhood sexual abuse-a percentage comparable to the rate of sexual abuse reported by patients with other psychiatric illnesses.
Some studies report that sexual abuse history is higher among patients who binge/purge than among patients with restricting-type anorexia.
Sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and other sources of trauma are considered a risk factor for disordered eating and body image disturbance; however, a history of sexual abuse is not seen in all patients with eating disorders, and conversely, not everyone with a history of sexual abuse will go on to develop anorexia or another eating disorder.
