Predictors of low bone density in young adolescent females with anorexia nervosa and other dieting disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the bone density of adolescent patients with anorexia nervosa with adolescent patients with other dieting disorders and to evaluate risk factors for low bone density in these patients.


METHODS
Sixty-nine consecutive female patients referred to an adolescent eating disorders clinic were studied by interview, blood sampling, body composition, and lumbar spine bone density measurement using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
Although patients with anorexia nervosa were more malnourished, their bone density was similar to other dieting patients. Patients were divided into a low and normal bone density group irrespective of psychiatric diagnosis. Patients with low bone density had dieted for longer, had lower lean body mass, more often had not achieved menarche, and had longer duration of secondary amenorrhea and lower estrogen levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Irrespective of clinical diagnosis, adolescents with dieting disorders have increased risk of low bone density when malnutrition commences early in puberty and is associated with reduced lean body mass and impaired ovarian function.
Turner
J M
JM
Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Australia and Eating Disorders Clinic, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, Western Australia. david@paed.uwa.edu.au
Bulsara
M K
MK
McDermott
B M
BM
Byrne
G C
GC
Prince
R L
RL
Forbes
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011627:Puberty; D012307:Risk Factors
D004967:Estrogens