Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparative study of rate of weight loss among premorbid and healthy restrictive eaters

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Initial body mass index (BMI) and rate of weight loss are compared between cohorts of pathological and healthy dieters. The eating disordered sample consists of young adults reported in case studies in the past ten years with a primary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN). The healthy dieters were adolescents who participated in the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health and indicated at the time of study enrollment that they were trying to lose weight. At diet initiation, the anorexic sample had a mean BMI (kg/m2) of 20.5 while the healthy dieters had a mean of 24.8._The median rate of weight loss was −1.87 kg per month (1 pound per week) for individuals later diagnosed with AN, while the median weight change was 0.24 kg per month for the Add Health dieters, reflecting an actual gain of 0.13 pounds per week. These findings suggest that measurable physiological characteristics during the early phase of a diet could be predictive of pathological food restriction.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Weiss E.C., Galuska D.A., Khan L.K., Serdula M.K.: Weight-control practices among U.S. adults, 2001–2002. Am. J. Prev. Med., 31, 18–24, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Hoek H.W.: Incidence, prevalence and mortality of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Curr. Opin. Psychiatry, 19, 389–394, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Casper R.C.: The ‘drive for activity’ and ‘restlessness’ in anorexia nervosa: potential pathways. J. Affect. Disord., 92, 99–107, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Udry J.R.: The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health),Wave I & II, 1994–1996. Chapel Hill, NC, Carolina Population Center, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Yucel B., Ozbey N., Polat A., Yager J.: Weight fluctuations during early refeeding period in anorexia nervosa: case reports. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 37, 175–177, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Yucel B., Uzum A.K., Ozbey N., Kamali S., Yager J.: Anorexia nervosa and Raynaud’s phenomenon: A case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 40, 762–765, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Lázaro L., Moreno E.A, Baos P., Castro J.: Anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder in a prepubertal patient with bone dysplasia: a case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 37, 275–277, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Krantz M.J., Lee D., Donahoo W.T., Mehler P.S.: The paradox of normal serum albumin in anorexia nervosa: a case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 37, 278–280, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Boutelle K.N.: The use of exposure with response prevention in a male anorexic. J. Behav. Ther. Exp. Psychiatry, 29, 79–84, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Mendelson S.D.: Treatment of anorexia nervosa with tramadol. Am. J. Psychiatry, 158, 963–964, 2001.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Yager J.: E-mail as a therapeutic adjunct in the outpatient treatment of anorexia nervosa: Illustrative case material and discussion of the issues. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 29, 125–138, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Huang Y.L., Fang C.T., Tseng M.C., Lee Y.J., Lee M.B.: Life-threatening refeeding syndrome in a severely malnourished anorexia nervosa patient. J. Formos. Med. Assoc., 100, 343–346, 2001.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Vanderdonckt O., Lambert M., Montero M.C., Boland B., Brohet C.: The 12-lead electrocardiogram in anorexia nervosa: a report of 2 cases followed by a retrospective study. J. Electrocardiol., 34, 233–242, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Mehler C., Wewetzer C., Schulze U., Warnke A., Theisen F., Dittmann R.W.: Olanzapine in children and adolescents with chronic anorexia nervosa. A study of five cases. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 10, 151–157, 2001.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Masuda A., Nakano T., Uehara H., Kuroki K., Tei C.: Hyperbaric oxygen for anorexia nervosa. Intern. Med., 40, 635–637, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Drevelengas A., Chourmouzi D., Pitsavas G., Charitandi A., Boulogianni G.: Reversible brain atrophy and subcortical high signal on MRI in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Neuroradiology, 43, 838–840, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Yaryura-Tobias J.A., Pinto A., Neziroglu F.: Anorexia nervosa, diabetes mellitus, brain atrophy, and fatty liver. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 30, 350–353, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Winston A.P., Wells F.E.: Hypophosphatemia following self-treatment for anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 32, 245–248, 2002.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Demaerel P., Dekimpe P., Muls E., Wilms G.: MRI demonstration of orbital lipolysis in anorexia nervosa. Eur. Radiol., 12, S4–6, 2002.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fisher M., Fornari V., Waldbaum R., Gold R.: Three case reports on the relationship between anorexia nervosa and obsessive compulsive disorder. Int. J. Adolesc. Med. Health, 14, 329–334, 2002.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Davani S., Bouhaddi M., Nezelof S., Vandel S., Regnard J., Kantelip J.P.: Orthostatic hypotension and anorexia nervosa, is there a treatment? Therapie, 58, 170–172, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Georges B., Thissen J.P., Lambert M.: Severe hypophosphatemia in a patient with anorexia nervosa during enteral refeeding. Acta Clin. Belg., 59, 361–364, 2004.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Neiderman M., Zarody M., Tattersall M., Lask B.: Enteric feeding in severe adolescent anorexia nervosa: a report of four cases. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 28, 470–475, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ngai E.S., Lee S., Lee A.M.: The variability of phenomenology in anorexia nervosa. Acta Psychiatr. Scand., 102, 314–317, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Kuruoglu A.C., Kapucu O., Atasever T., Arikan Z., Isik E., Unlu M.: Technetium-99mHMPAO brain SPECT in anorexia nervosa. J. Nucl. Med., 39, 304–306, 1998.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Abou-Saleh M.T., Younis Y., Karim L.: Anorexia nervosa in an Arab culture. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 23, 207–212, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Adson D.E., Crow S.J., Mitchell J.E.: Spontaneous pneumothorax in anorexia nervosa. Psychosomatics, 39, 162–164, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Komuta M., Harada M., Ueno T., Uchimura Y., Inada C., Mitsuyama K., Sakisaka S., Sata M., Tanikawa K.: Unusual accumulation of glycogen in liver parenchymal cells in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Intern. Med., 37, 678–682, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Mizuno R., Fujimoto S., Kimura Y., Yoshioka A., Nakano H., Dohi K.: Anorexia nervosa with left atrial failure. Intern. Med., 37, 857–860, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Saito S., Kita K., Morioka C.Y., Watanabe A.: Rapid recovery from anorexia nervosa after a life-threatening episode with severe thrombocytopenia: report of three cases. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 25, 113–118, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Karwautz A., Hafferl A., Ungar D., Sailer H.: Patulous eustachian tube in a case of adolescent anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 25, 353–355, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ishikawa S., Kato M., Tokuda T., Momoi H., Sekijima Y., Higuchi M., Yanagisawa N.: Licorice-induced hypokalemic myopathy and hypokalemic renal tubular damage in anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord., 26, 111–114, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Furuta S., Ozawa Y., Maejima K., Tashiro H., Kitahora T., Hasegawa K., Kuroda S., Ikuta N.: Anorexia nervosa with severe liver dysfunction and subsequent critical complications. Intern. Med., 38, 575–579, 1999.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. le Grange D.: Family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa. J. Clin. Psychol., 55, 727–739, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ricca V., Mannucci E., Calabro A., Bernardo M.D., Cabras P.L., Rotella C.M.: Anorexia nervosa and celiac disease: two case reports. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 27, 119–122, 2000.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Yamada Y., Nishimura S., Inoue T., Tsujimura T., Fushimi H.: Anorexia nervosa with ischemic necrosis of the segmental ileum and cecum. Intern. Med., 40, 304–307, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Mukamel M.: Synovial e usion in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Clin. Pediatr. (Phila.), 40, 242, 2001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Chen S.H., Hung I.J., Jaing T.H., Sun C.F.: Gelatinous degeneration of the bone marrow in anorexia nervosa. Chang Gung Med. J., 27, 845–849, 2004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kam W.K., Lee S.: The variable manifestations and contextual meanings of anorexia nervosa: two case illustrations from Hong Kong. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 23, 227–231, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Yasuhara D., Deguchi D., Tsutsui J., Nagai N., Nozoe S.-I., Naruo T.: A characteristic reactive hypoglycemia induced by rapid change of eating behavior in anorexia nervosa: a case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 34, 273–277, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Suwabe T., Taguchi M., Takeshita A., Ozawa Y.: Marked ascites and serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125 elevation in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 38, 94–96, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Inoko K., Nishizono-Maher A., Ishii K., Osawa M.: Effect of medical treatments on psychiatric symptoms in children with anorexia nervosa. Pediatr. Int., 47, 326–328, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Ohwada R., Hotta M., Kimura H., Takagi S., Matsuda N., Nomura K., Takano K.: Ampulla cardiomyopathy after hypoglycemia in three young female patients with anorexia nervosa. Intern. Med., 44, 228–233, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Tong J., Miao S.J., Wang J., Zhang J.J., Wu H.M., Li T., Hsu L.K.: Five cases of male eating disorders in Central China. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 37, 72–75, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ayton A.K., Azaz A., Horrobin D.F.: Rapid improvement of severe anorexia nervosa during treatment with ethyl-eicosapentaenoate and micronutrients. Eur. Psychiatry, 19, 317–319, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Derman O., Kanbur N.O., Coskun T., Pehlivanturk B.: Refeeding problems in a severe anorexia nervosa case. Int. J. Adolesc. Med. Health, 16, 65–69, 2004.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Ercan E.S., Copkunol H., Cykoethlu S., Varan A.: Olanzapine treatment of an adolescent girl with anorexia nervosa. Hum. Psychopharmacol., 18, 401–403, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Tey H.L., Lim S.C., Snodgrass A.M.: Refeeding oedema in anorexia nervosa. Singapore Med. J., 46, 308–310, 2005.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Yasuhara D., Kojima S., Nozoe S., Naruo T.: Intense fear of caloric intake related to severe hypoglycemia in anorexia nervosa. Gen. Hosp. Psychiatry., 26, 243–245, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Nishio S., Yamada H., Yamada K., Okabe H., Okuya T., Yonekawa O., Ono T., Sahara N., Tamashima S., Ihara M.: Severe neutropenia with gelatinous bone marrow transformation in anorexia nervosa: a case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 33, 360–363, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Lindblade C.L., Hubbard J.E., Miller J.M., Batra A.S.: Anorexia nervosa and ventricular fibrillation. Clin. Pediatr. (Phila.), 44, 629–632, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Buchowski K.P., Pardo J., Ringel R., Guarda A.S.: Inducible syncope in anorexia nervosa: Two case reports. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 35, 359–362, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Inagaki T., Yamamoto M., Tsubouchi K., Miyaoka T., Uegaki J., Maeda T., Horiguchi J., Yamane Y., Kato Y.: Echocardiographic investigation of pericardial e usion in a case of anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 33, 364–366, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Gáti A., Tényi T., Túry F., Wildmann M.: Anorexia nervosa following sexual harassment on the Internet: a case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 31, 474–477, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Lena S.M., Chidambaram U., Panarella C., Sambasivan K.: Cognitive factors in anorexia nervosa: a case history. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 30, 354–358, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Azumagawa K., Kambara Y., Kawamura N., Takenaka Y., Yamasaki T., Tanaka H., Tamai H.: Anorexia nervosa and refeeding syndrome. A case report. Scientific World Journal, 7, 400–403, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Tazoe M., Narita M., Sakuta R., Nagai T., Narita N.: Hyperkalemia and hyperdopaminemia induced by an obsessive eating of banana in an anorexia nervosa adolescent. Brain Dev., 29, 369–372, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Bravender T., Kanter R., Zucker N.: Anorexia nervosa and second-degree atrioventricular block (Type I). Int. J. Eat. Disord., 39, 612–615, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Polli N., Blengino S., Moro M., Zappulli D., Scacchi M., Cavagnini F.: Pericardial effusion requiring pericardiocentesis in a girl with anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 39, 609–611, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Senzaki H., Kurihara M., Masutani S., Sasaki N., Kyo S., Yokote Y.: Images in cardiovascular medicine. Left ventricular hypertrophy and outflow tract obstruction in a patient with anorexia nervosa. Circulation, 113, e759–761, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Ehrlich S., Querfeld U., Pfeiffer E.: Refeeding oedema: an important complication in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry, 15, 241–243, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Wang T.S., Chou Y.H., Shiah I.S.: Combined treatment of olanzapine and mirtazapine in anorexia nervosa associated with major depression. Prog. Neuropsychopharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry, 30, 306–309, 2006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Sundararaghavan S., Pitts T.Y., Suarez W.A., Johnstone C.H.: Chest pain among adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Pediatr. Emerg. Care, 21, 604–605, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Santonastaso P., Sala A., Favaro A.: Water intoxication in anorexia nervosa: A case report. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 24, 439–442, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Lutte I., Rhys C., Hubert C., Brion F., Boland B., Peeters A., Van Den Bergh P., Lambert M.: Peroneal nerve palsy in anorexia nervosa. Acta Neurol. Belg., 97, 251–254, 1997.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of California Los Angeles, Department of Biostatistics, UCLA School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    S. Kovalchik

Authors
  1. S. Kovalchik
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Kovalchik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kovalchik, S. Comparative study of rate of weight loss among premorbid and healthy restrictive eaters. Eat Weight Disord 13, 176–182 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327504

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03327504

Key words

Search

Navigation