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Pattern of birth in anorexia nervosa II: a comparison of early‐onset cases in the southern and northern hemispheres
Author(s) -
Willoughby Kate,
Watkins Beth,
Beumont Pierre,
Maguire Sarah,
Lask Bryan,
Waller Glenn
Publication year - 2002
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/eat.10058
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , psychology , right hemisphere , anorexia , southern hemisphere , developmental psychology , psychiatry , eating disorders , climatology , medicine , cognitive psychology , geology
Objective In the northern hemisphere, people with anorexia nervosa are more likely to be born in the spring and early summer, particularly when environmental temperature at assumed time of conception is warmer. This study investigates whether there is a comparable effect in the southern hemisphere (Australia), where seasonal and temperature patterns are reversed. Method Date of birth and temperature at assumed time of conception were collected for 199 Australian and 259 UK patients with early‐onset anorexia nervosa. Analyses determined patterns of birth and links to temperature at conception. Results There was little change across the year in the birth patterns of young people with anorexia nervosa in the southern hemisphere. However, there was a significant link between temperature at assumed time of conception and diagnostic subtype. Compared with anorexics of the binge/purge subtype, restrictive anorexics from the southern hemisphere were less likely to be conceived in relatively cool weather. Conclusions The findings support a temperature at conception hypothesis (modified for local temperature ranges), rather than suggesting a simple seasonal pattern of birth. © 2002 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 32: 18–23, 2002.