Body composition in female anorexia nervosa patients

Abstract

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).