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Menstrual cycle loss and resumption among patients with anorexia nervosa spectrum eating disorders: Is relative or absolute weight more influential?
Author(s) -
Berner Laura A.,
Feig Emily H.,
Witt Ashley A.,
Lowe Michael R.
Publication year - 2017
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.22697
Subject(s) - anorexia nervosa , amenorrhea , body mass index , weight loss , psychology , eating disorders , menstrual cycle , weight gain , medicine , obesity , pediatrics , psychiatry , body weight , hormone , pregnancy , biology , genetics
Objective Prior research suggests that both body mass index (BMI) and weight suppression (highest past weight minus current weight; WS) are important in determining adult anorexia nervosa (AN) severity. We examined associations between amenorrhea and WS, DSM‐5 BMI severity category, and highest premorbid BMI among patients with AN. Method Participants ( N = 69) were adult female AN‐spectrum patients at two residential treatment facilities. At admission, height, and weight were measured, and participants completed questionnaires assessing menstrual status and weight history. Results Greater WS, adjusted for BMI, was associated with menstrual function at admission. First amenorrhea onset occurred at a normal BMI for 38.5% of participants. Premorbid highest BMI positively correlated with BMI at amenorrhea onset, and higher BMI at amenorrhea onset was associated with higher BMI at menses resumption. Discussion These findings add to the literature indicating that relative and absolute weight status are dual indicators of illness severity in AN, and preliminarily suggest that a large proportion of adults who present for treatment initially may have shown symptoms of starvation at a normal BMI. Results underscore the need to focus on weight loss in early detection efforts and may inform target weight setting in the treatment of AN.