Artists and eating disorders: what do we know? A systematic review of the evidence and gaps
Abstract
Objectives: Although artists are often considered at higher risk for eating disorders (EDs), evidence remains limited. We therefore conducted a systematic review of ED occurrence, risk, body image concerns, and general psychopathology in artistic populations.
Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, PsycINFO, Medline, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies published in any year. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria and were narratively synthesised.
Results: The review encompassed a broad range of artistic groups (e.g., musicians, actors, circus and drag performers, and theatre artists). Four studies reported lifetime ED diagnoses (2.9% to 22.5%; mean ≈ 12.1%), while three studies assessed current ED diagnoses (1.4% to 18.7%; mean ≈ 7.5%). Six studies reported ED risk levels, which varied substantially (8% to 70.7%; mean ≈ 27.8%), reflecting considerable heterogeneity in samples and methodologies. Importantly, these estimates were largely derived from self-report or non-standardised assessments rather than validated structured clinical interviews, limiting their interpretability and comparability. Despite these limitations, most studies indicated elevated ED-related indicators and body dissatisfaction in artistic populations relative to general population benchmarks, although such comparisons should be interpreted with caution. Across studies, body image concerns were consistently associated with ED symptoms, and anxiety and depression were positively…
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