Anorexia nervosa in Chinese adolescents - does culture make a difference?

The clinical and psychosocial characteristics of 16 Chinese adolescents fro m Hong Kong with anorexia nervosa are reported. In contrast to previous loc al reports of adult patients, over 80 per cent of these younger patients re ported a fear of fatness. It appears that, against the background of increa sing Westernization, the illness is taking on a Western pattern, in line wi th the suggestion that significant concern about weight in anorexia nervosa is a pathoplastic effect of Westernization. There was also a marked increa se in the referral rate of patients in the younger age group, reflecting bo th an increase in the incidence and general awareness of the illness. (C) 2 000 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.