9 to 40 years old
The eating disorders anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, respectively, affect 0.5 percent and 2-3 percent of women over their lifetime. The most common age of onset is between 12-25. Although much more common in females, 10 percent of cases detected are in males.  Bulimia Nervosa Overview. Bulimia nervosa (bulimia) is characterized by repeatedly eating abnormally large amounts of food in a short period of time and then trying to compensate for the binge by purging (i.e., engaging in self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics), exercising excessively, or fasting. The average age of onset for bulimia is 18 years, but it occurs in children as young as 9 and adults into their mid-40s and older. Most bulimics go through a period of prolonged dieting or restricted eating before the cyclic binging-purging episodes begin. Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Purging refers to attempts to rid oneself of the food consumed. This may be done by vomiting or taking a laxative. There is also a higher risk of suicide and self-harm. Bulimia is more common among those who have a close relative with the condition. The percentage risk that is estimated to be due to genetics is between 30% and 80%. Bulimia nervosa (buh-LEE-me-ah nur-VOH-suh), often called bulimia, is a type of eating disorder. A person with bulimia eats a lot of food in a short amount of time (binging) and then tries to prevent weight gain by getting rid of the food (purging). A person with bulimia may be thin, overweight, or have a normal weight. Also, bulimic behavior, such as throwing up, is often done in private because the person with bulimia feels shame or disgust. This makes it hard to know if someone has bulimia. But there are warning signs to look out for. EPIDEMIOLOGY. Whereas the prevalence of anorexia nervosa for women in the United States is 0.5% to 1%, the prevalence of bulimia nervosa is 2% to 3% and can be as high as 10% in vulnerable populations, such as college-aged women. Males are affected by eating disorders at a rate one tenth of that of females. Bulimia nervosa is a common and treatable condition that often presents in the primary care setting. The hallmark sign for bulimia nervosa is a distorted view of food and eating. Patients with this condition often maintain a normal or above-normal weight. A person with bulimia feels he or she cannot control the amount of food eaten. Also, bulimics might exercise a lot, eat very little or not at all, or take pills to pass urine often to prevent weight gain. Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight. But like people with anorexia, bulimics: 1  Fear gaining weight. A person with bulimia may be thin, overweight, or have a normal weight. Also, bulimic behavior, such as throwing up, is often done in private because the person with bulimia feels shame or disgust. This makes it hard to know if someone has bulimia. But there are warning signs to look out for. Lifetime Prevalence. The reported lifetime prevalence of anorexia nervosa among women has ranged from 0.9% - 2.2% and 0.2 - 0.3% in men (Keski-R et al 2008). With regard to bulimia nervosa, estimates of lifetime prevalence among women range from 1.5% to 2% and 0.5% in men. Prevalence of eating disorders in young children is unknown. Eating disorders have been reported in up to 4% of adolescents and young adults. The most common age at onset for anorexia nervosa is the mid teens; in 5% of the patients, the onset of the disorder is in the early twenties. The onset of bulimia nervosa is usually in adolescence but may be as late as early adulthood. By Psych Central Staff ~ 2 min read. People with bulimia nervosa consume large amounts of food and then rid their bodies of the excess calories by vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, taking enemas, or exercising obsessively. Some use a combination of all these forms of purging.  At 10 years after receiving treatment about 50% of people are fully recovered. Globally, bulimia was estimated to affect 6.5 million people in 2013. About 1% of young women have bulimia at a given point in time and about 2% to 3% of women have the condition at some point in their lives. The condition is less common in the developing world. There is also a higher risk of suicide and self-harm. Bulimia is more common among those who have a close relative with the condition. The percentage risk that is estimated to be due to genetics is between 30% and 80%.
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/eating_disorders/faq.html http://www.healthcommunities.com/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa.shtml https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulimia_nervosa http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/bulimia-nervosa.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC419300/ http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/bulimia-nervosa.html http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/psychiatry-psychology/eating-disorders/ http://psychcentral.com/disorders/bulimia-bulimia-nervosa-symptoms/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulimia_nervosa
bulimia nervosa age range