Impact of pre-treatment weight on weight trajectory in women treated for bulimia nervosa

• Published in: European eating disorders review Vol. 12; no. 6; pp. 387 - 391
• Main Authors: Carter, Frances A., McIntosh, Virginia V. W., Joyce, Peter R., Gendall, Kelly A., Bulik, Cynthia M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.11.2004; John Wiley and Sons, Limited
• Subjects: BMI; body mass index; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; eating disorders; Weight; Women
• ISSN: 1072-4133; 1099-0968
• DOI: 10.1002/erv.600

Objective To describe and evaluate changes in weight‐related measures over 5‐year follow‐up for weight status groups identified at pre‐treatment. Methods Participants were 134 non‐pregnant women who had participated in a randomized clinical trial for bulimia nervosa. Women were categorized according to their pre‐treatment body mass index (BMI; weight in kg/height in m2) into the following groups: low weight (BMI < 20), normal weight (BMI 20–25) and overweight (> 25). Participants were assessed across treatment and at yearly intervals (or more) over 5‐year follow‐up. Results Descriptive data and repeated measures analyses of variance show a trend for patients identified as being overweight at pre‐treatment to change (gain) more in weight and BMI over time than low weight or normal weight groups. Conclusion Weight status groups identified at pre‐treatment may have different patterns of weight change over time. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.