Abstract

VAZ, F. J. et al. Purging behaviours and nutritional status in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Nutr. Hosp. [online]. 2003, vol.18, n.5, pp.253-258. ISSN 1699-5198.

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate whether the use of purgative methods in patients with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa [AN] and bulimia nervosa [BN]) could be capable of producing changes in the nutritional status of the patients. Setting and Patients: The group under study was composed of 184 female eating disordered outpatients. One hundred and sixteen patients (63.0%) fulfilled the DSMIV diagnostic criteria for BN (90 purging type, 26 nonpurging type). Sixty eight patients (37.0%) fulfilled the DSM-IV criteria for the diagnosis of AN (48 restricting type, 20 binging-purging type). Methods: The asessment process included anthropometry (body circumferences and skinfold thickness) and body impedance analysis. Results: The two subgroups of AN patients significantly differed from each of the BN subgroups. From a nutritional point of view, some significant differences between the two DSM-IV subtypes of AN existed, but not between the purging type and the nonpurging type of BN. Conclusions: The paper discusses the clinical significance of these findings. An alternative subtypification of AN patients is proposed: 1) restricting type [patients who control their food intake and do not purge]; 2) purging type [patient with true episodes of binging which are followed by purgative behaviors]; and 3) pseudopurging type [patients with subjective binging episodes who use purging methods].

Keywords : Anorexia nervosa; Anthropometry; Body fat; Body impedance analysis; Bulimia nervosa; Clinical subtypes; Nutritional status.

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