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A one-year follow-up study in anorexia nervosa. Dietary pattern and anthropometrical evolution

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 547–554 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To find out the modifications and the interrelationships between the energy and macronutrient intakes and anthropometric measurements of a group of anorexia nervosa patients (ANP), with homogenous diagnosis, age and treatment, during a 1 y follow-up.

Design: Longitudinal study design.

Subjects: Fourteen restricting-type ANP in the adolescent age (11–21 y) were recruited for the study and evaluated at four time intervals during 1 y of multidisciplinary treatment: (a) on admission (AN0); (b) after 1 month (AN1); (c) after 6 months (AN6); (d) after 1 y (AN12).

Measures: Energy and macronutrient composition of the diet (48 h recall) and anthropometric measurements including skinfold thickness.

Results: Mean weight and BMI were under the 3rd percentile in AN0. All anthropometrical parameters increased significantly in AN1 compared to AN0 and did not change in AN6 and AN12. Energy and macronutrient intakes increased significantly in AN1. The dietary changes were not maintained in the subsequent time intervals and there was an overall tendency to turn back to AN0 results. Energy intake adequacy to Spanish Recommended Intakes (RI) showed only an acceptable ratio in AN1 (94% RI); however, a preserved protein intake was found throughout the study (mean intakes between 128.5% and 230.0% RI). Negative correlations were found at AN12 between size of arm's subcutaneous fat stores and energy and macronutrient intakes.

Conclusion: In this 1 y follow-up study the decrease in the intake of energy and macronutrients after discharge seems to be related to anthropometric evolution, so that a return to restrictive eating behaviour had occurred in those subjects who had reached the highest values in their subcutaneous fat stores, probably related to dissatisfaction with self-body image.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 547–554

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Acknowledgements

To Dr Ranjit K Chandra of the Memorial University of Newfoundland, for his wise comments and advice in the final elaboration of this manuscript and to Dr Laura Barrios of the Centro de Cálculo (CSIC) for her help in the statistical analysis of data.

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Author notes

  1. E Nova and A Marcos: Guarantors: A Marcos and E Nova.

  2. E Nova, P Varela, I López-Vidriero, O Toro, MJ Ceñal, J Casas and A Marcos: Contributors: EN participated in protocol design, data collection, statistical analysis and interpretation of data and did the main writing of the paper. PV initiated and coordinated the study, discussed core ideas, designed the study protocol and contributed to interpretation of data and to the writing of this paper. IL-V participated in protocol design, and data collection. OT participated in protocol design, and data collection. JC discussed core ideas, participated in protocol design and facilitated data collection. MJC discussed core ideas, participated in protocol design and facilitated data collection. AM initiated and coordinated the study, discussed core ideas, designed the study protocol and contributed to interpretation of data and to the writing of this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Nutrición y Bromatología (CSIC), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain

    E Nova, P Varela, I López-Vidriero, O Toro & A Marcos

  2. Hospital de Móstoles, C/Rio Júcar s/n, Móstoles, Madrid, Spain

    MJ Ceñal & J Casas

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Correspondence to A Marcos.

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Nova, E., Varela, P., López-Vidriero, I. et al. A one-year follow-up study in anorexia nervosa. Dietary pattern and anthropometrical evolution. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 547–554 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601181

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