title: Urbanisation and the incidence of eating disorders.
abstract: The link between degree of urbanisation and a number of mental disorders is well established. Schizophrenia, psychosis and depression are known to occur more frequently in urban areas. In our primary care-based study of eating disorders, the incidence of bulimia nervosa showed a dose-response relation with degree of urbanisation and was five times higher in cities than in rural areas. Remarkably, anorexia nervosa showed no association with urbanisation. We conclude that urban life is a potential environmental risk factor for bulimia nervosa but not for anorexia nervosa. These findings provide a promising avenue for further research into the aetiology of eating disorders.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eating Disorders Ursula, PO Box 422, 2260 AK Leidschendam, The Netherlands. g.vanson@centrumeetstoornissen.nl
authors.forename: Gabriëlle E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: van Son
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van Hoeken
authors.forename: Aad I M
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bartelds
authors.forename: Eric F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: van Furth
authors.forename: Hans W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Hoek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014507:Urbanization