Influence of bone density results on adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
OBJECTIVE
Not reaching an optimal peak bone mass during adolescence puts young patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) at risk for osteoporosis. Qualitative techniques were employed to determine whether having a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement affected the attitudes and behaviors of young women with AN.


METHODS
Nineteen adolescents with AN who had undergone BMD measurements were questioned about the experience of having the test and reactions to the results. Themes were identified and statistical analyses were performed.


RESULTS
Participants perceived a normal or low BMD in healthy and unhealthy ways. Although not all healthy feelings led to behavioral change, they appeared to serve as driving forces later in their illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing young women with BMD results is not always enough to change unhealthy behaviors and may generate some unhealthy thoughts. However, the experience may lead to positive behavioral changes and result in long-term improvement. Clinicians must be careful and sensitive when presenting these results.
Stoffman
Nava
N
Division of Adolescent/Young Adult Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Schwartz
Beth
B
Austin
S Bryn
SB
Grace
Estherann
E
Gordon
Catherine M
CM
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015519:Bone Density; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*