Abstract
Background: Low body weight is considered to be an important risk factor for poor outcome in anorexia nervosa (AN). Objectives: To study the relationship between body mass index (BMI) at the beginning of treatment and at follow-up. A BMI of 13 kg/m2 at admission was hypothesized as cut-off point for better versus worse evolution of weight after treatment. Method: The BMI of 232 female AN inpatients was calculated at admission and after 6 months and 1 year. Results: An overall low correlation between BMI at admission and at 6 months (r =0.27) and 1 year (r =0.26) follow-up was found. A BMI value of 15 kg/m2 at admission was revealed as the best cut-off point for making predictions. Conclusions: Patients with an admission BMI below 15 kg/m2 have a significantly greater chance to develop a lower BMI value at follow-up than those with a higher BMI.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Hebebrand J., Himmelmann G.W., Wewetzer C., Gutenbrunner C., Heseker H., Schafer H., Remschmidt, H.: Body weight in acute anorexia nervosa and at follow- up assessed with percentiles for the body mass index: Implication of a low body weight at referral. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 19, 347–357, 1996.
Hebebrand J., Himmelmann G.W., Herzog W., Herpertz-Dahlmann B.M., Steinhausen H.C., Amstein M., Seidel R., Deter H.C., Remschmidt H., Schafer H.: Prediction of low body weight at long-term follow-up in acute anorexia nervosa by low body weight at referral. Am. J. Psychiatry, 154, 566–569, 1997.
Treasure J.: Maudsley Body Mass Index Chart, internal document, South London and Maudsley NSH, Consultant Eating Disorders Unit, London, Bethlem Royal Hospital, 2000.
Vandereycken W.: Multidimensional treatment of patients with eating disorders. In: Verhofstadt-Denéve L., Kienhorst I., Braet C. (Eds.), Conflict and development in adolescence. Leinden, DSWO Press, 1996.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pintér, O., Probst, M., Vandereycken, W. et al. The predictive value of body mass index for the weight evolution in anorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord 9, 232–235 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325073
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325073