An Outcome Study of Anorexia Nervosa in Singapore

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a growing problem among young women in Singapore. A team of dietitians led by Lin Su Lin, chief dietitian at National University Hospital in Singapore, conducted a retrospective review of 94 patients seen at the hospital from 1992 to 2004 (Singapore Med J 2007; 48:222). Nutritional intervention included individualized counseling for weight gain, personalized diet plans, and individualized counseling about dietary intake and healthy eating.

The median body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) was 14.7, and 76% of the AN patients were between 13 and 20 years old. Ninety-six percent were female, and 86.2% were Chinese. The majority of patients improved with follow-up care; 68% had had an average weight gain of about 12 lb after treatment. Those who improved had more outpatient follow-up sessions with dietitians (4.2 consultations vs. 1.2 consultations, respectively). Those who did poorly had AN longer than 2 years, and in general had delayed seeking help for AN.