1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder or disordered eating. National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) guide, Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions Eating Disorders affect up to 24 million Americans and 70 million individuals worldwide.n estimated 10 to 15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. Carlat, D.J. Camargo. Review of Bulimia in Males. American Journal of Psychiatry, 154, 1997 90 % of those who have eating disorders are women between the ages of 12 and 25.