Global and Regional Economic Burden of Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review and Critique of Methods

Objective: This systematic review aims to comprehensively examine up-to-date evidence on the economic burden of eating disorders (EDs), both globally and by region.

Methodology: A comprehensive search within five electronic databases, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and EconLit, retrieved studies published from August 1, 2013, to June 30, 2024. Cost of illness (COI) studies, burden of disease, and other cost studies that reported costs in monetary values were included, and cost-effectiveness analysis studies were excluded. The quality of COI studies was assessed using Schnitzler's checklist. All cost estimates were converted into 2024 USD purchasing power parity (PPP). The PROSPERO registration number is CRD42022358136.

Findings: Twenty-six studies were identified for inclusion in this review, with 11 COI studies. The nationwide annual financial cost of EDs is estimated at PPP-USD 70.5 billion. Indirect costs contributed 70%-93% of total financial costs in the reviewed studies. Intangible costs (burden of disease) were estimated to be PPP-USD 355.6 billion. About half of the COI studies met 60% of the elements of Schnitzler's checklist, either completely or partly.

Discussion: The number of COI studies has more than doubled in the last 10 years. Findings can inform healthcare administrators/policymakers to understand the magnitude of this burden when setting healthcare priorities and allocating resources to maximize social welfare. However, there are variations in the methods (thus quality) and perspectives used to assess this economic burden. Findings suggest that there is potential for enhancing the methodological rigor of future research.