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Body composition in female anorexia nervosa patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

M. Probst ,
M. Goris ,
W. Vandereycken  and
H. Van Coppenolle
M. Probst
Affiliation:
University Center St Joseph, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
M. Goris
Affiliation:
Department of Kinesiology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
W. Vandereycken
Affiliation:
University Center St Joseph, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
H. Van Coppenolle
Affiliation:
University Center St Joseph, B-3070 Kortenberg, Belgium
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Abstract

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For the first time, body composition has been studied in a very large sample of female anorexia nervosa patients (n 200) using two methods: anthropometry (skinfold thickness) and densitometry (underwater weighing). The concurrent validity of both methods appeared to be good (r 0·84). Although the mean percentage of body fat (13·5) in our sample corresponds with most of the previous reports, the range (4·3–24·8) is great. Our study shows that BMI is not a good measure of fatness. Age and duration of illness were not related to body fat. Percentage fat was found to be different (t 2·76, P <0·01) according to the diagnostic subtype of anorexia nervosa: restricters (12·9) v. bingers and/or purgers (14·7).

Keywords

Anorexia nervosaBody compositionAnthropometryDensitometryUnderwater weighing
Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 76 , Issue 5 , November 1996 , pp. 639 - 647
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1996

References

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