Prevalence and Duration of Anorexia Shocks Researchers
Since quite a few of the studies of prevalence, epidemiology and outcomes of anorexia has involved cases documented or diagnosed by the medical system, Anna Keski-Rahkonen, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Helsinki and Columbia University, and colleagues reported their findings in a new, unbiased study, created to look at the general population. Lifetime prevalence, incident rates and 5-year recovery were examined in the 2,881 women from the 1975-79 cohorts of Finnish twins.
Lifetime prevalence of severe anorexia was 2.2% or 63 women, of which half hadn’t been detected by the medical system. When removing some of the symptoms of severe anorexia, such as amenorrhea, about 5% of subjects were considered anorexic. It’s been suggested that half of the population suffering with the eating disorder go undiagnosed and only about a third receive mental health care.
Onset usually occurred between 10 and 25 years of age, with the peak ages being between 15 and 19. Interesting was the finding that women in the starvation phase were less likely to date, live in long term relationships and marry than their healthy twins. However, once recovered, they were just as likely to engage in these behaviours, have sexual relations and even have children.
The five year recovery rate was 66.8%, or 42 women, regardless medically detection or not. By this five year mark, most recovered women were almost or entirely clear of the effects if the disorder. In fact, the average duration of the disorder was about three years. About a third of the affected women still had symptoms after the five year mark and only 8.4% surpassed 10 years.
Resources: American Journal of Psychiatry, Medpage Today, Science Daily.
Finnish, anorexia, twin studies, recovery, mental help, eating disorders, Finland
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