Anyone between the ages of 14-25 is more at risk due to the adolescent and young adult issues that people face during this time period. Coping with changes in one's body along with other transitions in relationships, becoming sexually active, deciding on one's future job, and negotiating independence from one's family of origin often cause distress that can make someone vulnerable to an eating disorder.
Some athletes are also at risk.
Certain sports such as gymnastics, distance running, and figure skating demand a certain body type in order to be successful. There are several widely publicized cases of eating disorders that have caused more widespread concern among female athletes in general. In addition, anyone with a history of physical, verbal, or sexual abuse is at risk for developing an eating disorder. People who experience these kinds of traumas often have learned that they can't trust others or their own feelings and turn to maladaptive coping mechanisms such as eating drinking, or smoking to deal with the myriad of emotions that may be overwhelming them.