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Prevalence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in a geographically defined area in Japan
Author(s) -
Nakamura Kazutoshi,
Yamamoto Masaharu,
Yamazaki Osamu,
Kawashima Yoshiaki,
Muto Kensuke,
Someya Toshiyuki,
Sakurai Koji,
Nozoe Shinichi
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(200009)28:2<173::aid-eat6>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - bulimia nervosa , anorexia nervosa , eating disorders , ethnic group , psychiatry , demography , psychology , medicine , prevalence , epidemiology , pediatrics , sociology , anthropology
Objective Little has been understood regarding the frequency of eating disorders in Japan. This study was designed to identify the prevalence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in Japan. Method We asked doctors in all of the relevant medical facilities (130 hospitals and 1,326 clinics) in Niigata Prefecture to report patients with DSM‐IV‐diagnosed eating disorders who appeared or were admitted between 20–24 October 1997. The response rate was 94.4%. Results The estimated point prevalences of AN and BN were 4.79 and 1.02, respectively, per 100,000 females. Specifically for the age group of 15–29 years, the prevalence of AN was 17.10 and that of BN 5.79. Discussion The prevalence of AN and BN in Japan is lower than that for European Caucasian populations. This result may be due to cultural and ethnic differences and/or it may be a transient phenomenon. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 28: 173–180, 2000.