Eating Disorders Increase Mortality Nearly 5-Fold, With Highest Risk in AN, Suicide

Background: Eating disorders are associated with substantial medical and psychiatric morbidity, but prior mortality meta-analyses were limited by older diagnostic systems, narrower disorder coverage, or restriction to selected causes of death. Objective: To quantify all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk in individuals with eating disorders and to identify aggravating or attenuating factors associated with mortality. Design: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020–compliant systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of cohort and case–control observational studies. Methods: The authors searched EMBASE and MEDLINE through October 23, 2024, for studies comparing mortality in people with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), mixed eating disorders, or related categories versus the general population or matched control groups. A total of 83 studies more...