Bone density of women who have recovered from anorexia nervosa

To examine bone density in 19 women who had previously experienced classica l anorexia nervosa from which they had been fully recovered for a mean of 2 1 years (current characteristics: median age 40.2 years; Eating Attitudes T est [EAT] score 2; body mass index [BMI] 21.1; average 1.8 offspring). Meth od: Probands were compared, blindly, in respect of bone density, with 13 co ntrol subjects matched for age and sex and with no history of eating disord ers. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to evaluate the bone m ineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine and the head of the femur. Results : Femur BMD was still significantly less among ex-anorectic sufferers. Two subjects had experienced pathological fractures while anorectic, both havin g been strenuous exercisers. None appeared to have suffered post illness fr actures. BMD at follow-up did not relate to the severity or chronicity of p revious anorexia nervosa. Discussion: Full clinical recovery from anorexia nervosa does not quite confer full establishment of normal bone density. Ho wever, pathological fractures are not a feature Thereafter, within middle l ife. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.