Anorexia Nervosa is a Transient Illness, Says Study

August 01, 2007 at 4:01 PM Research News
  •   Print
  •   Share
  •   Comments
  •  Text 
Anorexia Nervosa is a Transient Illness, Says Study
Anorexia nervosa is said to be often devastatingly chronic and carries high mortality rates, according to experts. But this view has been proved false by a new study. A study recently conducted in Finland among young women uncovers a completely different side to anorexia.

In the first nationwide outcome study anorexia of conducted to date, anorexia is a common, often severe, but highly transient illness. Its outcome is generally good: up to 70% of women with anorexia recover before age 30 according to collaborating scientist at Columbia University and University of Helsinki, Finland.

In the Finnish study, 2.2% of Finnish young women suffered from severe anorexia nervosa. When milder forms of self-starvation and obsessive anxiety about weight and shape were included, up to 5% of women suffered from anorexic symptoms during their lifetime. Anorexic symptoms usually started between ages 10 and 25; the peak of illness onset was between ages 15 and 19. Although Finland has an excellent taxpayer-funded healthcare system that covers everyone, only half of women with anorexia nervosa were recognized by healthcare professionals. Even fewer received any typeof treatment for their symptoms.

By age 30, up to 70% of women with anorexia had recovered from their illness. On average, the duration of anorexia was three years; about 25% recovered within a year, about 33% within 2 years, and about 67% within 5 years from the onset of their symptoms.

Page 1 Page 1 | 2  Next
 Email Email   RSS Feeds RSS Feeds   Print this page Print   Save this page Save   Link Link   Syndicate Syndicate   Comments Comments   Bookmark and Share
 
Comment & Contribute
Comments should be on the topic and should not be abusive. Comments are normally moderated and are reviewed after they are posted.
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters

Notify me when reply is posted
I agree to the terms and conditions
  
If you have a question about health related issues, you can now post it in our Ask An Expert section on our community website Medwonders.com and get answers from our panel of experts.
X
  • Health News Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
Quiz on Anorexia / Bulimia
Anorexia Nervosa – is it a psychological disorder , or simply an eating disorder gotten out of hand? And how does it differ from Bulimia Nervosa? Participate in our anorexia quiz to find out how well you understand this condition; learn its modern-day implications and how, in these mordern times, it affects both sexes equally .
  • News Quick Links
News Central Health Watch
Latest Health News Health In Focus
News Category (500+) Breaking Health News
Popular News Celebrating Life
Health News and Press Release Medindia - Exclusive
News Photo Gallery India Special
News Video Gallery Lifestyle and Wellness
News From Other Resources
Anorexia Nervosa
Complete Medindia Resources
News Categories:  
Teen's Health Center

Research Related News

» Lack of Vitamin D in Diet Raises Stroke Risk in Japanese-Americans » Why Bovine TB Continues to Spread Demystified in New Research
» Seaweed Pill May Help Treat Arthritis » P. Aeruginosa Infection Leads to Worse Outcomes and Increased Hospitalizations in COPD Patients
» Hormone Boosts Production of Molecules Which Fight Skin Infection » Protein Discovery Could Lead To New Vaccine for Meningitis
» Qui Vive: Intense Nuclear Radiation Threat, Scientists » 'Miracle' Diet of Reverse Engineering Epilepsy
Read More >>