Adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa whose weight is in the healthy, overweight or obese ranges face similar cardiovascular and other health complications as their counterparts with low body mass index (BMI), according to a new study.

The study, led by Andrea Garber, PhD, RD, chief nutritionist for the UCSF Eating Disorders Program, compared weight loss and illness severity among two groups of patients aged 12 to 24 who had been enrolled in a clinical trial upon admission to the hospital for treatment: 66 with anorexia nervosa, which excluded those who were severely underweight, and 50 heavier patients with so-called atypical anorexia nervosa.

They found that patients with atypical anorexia nervosa are as likely as underweight patients to suffer from bradycardia, or slow heart rate, a key sign of medical instability that can lead to irregular heartbeat and other complications. These patients also may carry a heavier psychological burden than those who are underweight, due to heightened preoccupations with food avoidance and more negative feelings about body shape and weight.

Large, Rapid or Long-Duration Weight Loss Key to Determining Illness Severity

«Lower weight has been traditionally equated with more severe illness,» said Garber, who is a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Adolescent Medicine at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. «Currently, one-third of eating disorder admissions are patients with atypical anorexia nervosa at normal weight or above.

«Our study suggests that patients with large, rapid or long duration of weight loss are more severely ill, regardless of their current weight,» she said, noting that both groups lost about 30 pounds over approximately 15 months.

Story Source:
Materials provided by University of California — San Francisco. Original written by Suzanne Leigh. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.