Time trends in the incidence of eating disorders: A primary care study in The Netherlands

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders Vol. 39; no. 7; pp. 565 - 569
• Main Authors: Son, G.E. van, Hoeken, D. van, Bartelds, A.I.M, Furth, E.F. van, Hoek, H.W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.11.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anorexia; Anorexia nervosa; Anorexia Nervosa - epidemiology; Anorexia Nervosa - therapy; binge eating disorder; binging; Biological and medical sciences; body image; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; Bulimia Nervosa - epidemiology; Bulimia Nervosa - therapy; Child; disease incidence; Eating behavior disorders; Eating disorders; epidemiology; Female; gaining weight; Humans; Incidence; Male; Medical sciences; medical treatment; Middle Aged; Netherlands - epidemiology; networks; patient care; Primary care; Primary Health Care - utilization; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; risk groups; time trends; Trends; Netherlands; Europe; Bulimia; bulimia nervosa; time trends; Primary health care; primary care; Anorexia nervosa; Eating disorder; Epidemiology; Public health; Incidence
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.20316

Objective: This Dutch epidemiological study used primary care-based data to examine changes in the incidence of eating disorders in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. Method: A nationwide network of general practitioners, serving a representative sample of the total Dutch population, recorded newly diagnosed patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in their practices during 1985-1989 and 1995-1999. Results:The overall incidence of AN was stable (from 7.4 to 7.7 per 100,000). However, the incidence among 15-19-year-old females increased significantly (from 56.4 to 109.2 per 100,000). The incidence rate of BN decreased nonsignificantly from 8.6 to 6.1 per 100,000. Conclusion: The time trend of an increasing AN incidence among the high risk group continued to the end of the past century. The BN incidence did not rise as was expected.