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The economic cost of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: a population-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 May 2021

Wadad Kathy Tannous Open the ORCID record for Wadad Kathy Tannous [Opens in a new window] ,
Phillipa Hay Open the ORCID record for Phillipa Hay [Opens in a new window] ,
Federico Girosi Open the ORCID record for Federico Girosi [Opens in a new window] ,
Andreea I. Heriseanu Open the ORCID record for Andreea I. Heriseanu [Opens in a new window] ,
Moin Uddin Ahmed Open the ORCID record for Moin Uddin Ahmed [Opens in a new window]  and
Stephen Touyz Open the ORCID record for Stephen Touyz [Opens in a new window]
Wadad Kathy Tannous*
Affiliation:
Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
Phillipa Hay
Affiliation:
Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
Federico Girosi
Affiliation:
Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
Andreea I. Heriseanu
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and InsideOut Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
Moin Uddin Ahmed
Affiliation:
Translational Health Research Institute, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, NSW, Australia
Stephen Touyz
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and InsideOut Institute, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Wadad Kathy Tannous, E-mail: k.tannous@westernsydney.edu.au
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Abstract

Background

The most common eating disorders (EDs) are bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED), serious psychiatric illnesses that have devastating effects on the physical and psychological wellbeing of sufferers. EDs range in complexity and severity but can be life-threatening without appropriate treatment. Although it is well-known that quality of life impacts is high for ED sufferers, research regarding fiscal and related costs is severely limited. The aim of this study was to understand economic and other costs of EDs at the community level.

Method

Data were derived from 2017 household community representative structured interview of 2977 people aged ⩾ 15 years in South Australia. ED diagnoses, health systems, productivity, transaction, out-of-pocket expenses and other related costs of BN and BED were used to estimate the economic burden of EDs in South Australia.

Results

The annual total economic cost of EDs in 2018 was estimated at $84 billion for South Australia. This included $81 billion from the burden of disease as the result of years lived with disability (YLD) ($62 billion) and years of life lost ($19 billion). The health system costs, productivity and tax revenue loss to the Australian economy were estimated at $1 billion, $1.6 billion and $0.6 billion, respectively.

Conclusions

The YLD average cost in 2018 in South Australia was $296 649 per person. This is two-thirds of the costs borne by individuals and the wider economy. Prevention and management initiatives for EDs need to take into account these costs when assessing their potential benefits.

Keywords

Eating disordersbulimia nervosabinge eating disordereconomic costpopulation
Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 52 , Issue 16 , December 2022 , pp. 3924 - 3938
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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