Rates of weight gain during specialised inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa

ABSTRACT

Background: Guidelines for anorexia nervosa (AN) inpatient treatment suggest weight gain of 0.5–1.0 kg per week, but it is uncertain if this aim is reached in ordinary clinical settings. Aims: To investigate weekly rates of weight gain and associated factors during tertiary AN inpatient treatment. Methods: Data were collected retrospectively from hospital records for all underweight patients admitted to a specialised eating disorders unit from 2007 to 2014. Results: 176 hospital stays (mean duration: 25.4 weeks ± 17.2) were included, of which 96% were females, 31% under 18 years old and 17% received compulsory treatment. Mean body mass index (BMI) increased from 14.8 ± 1.8 to 17.5 ± 2.0, and the mean weekly weight gain was 0.51 ± 0.33 kg the first 11 weeks and 0.18 ± 0.24 kg from week 12 to discharge. Significant predictors of greater weekly weight gain were shorter duration of hospital stay, lower BMI at admission and voluntarily treatment. Conclusion: Although patients’ body weight increased substantially, the rate of weekly weight gain was lower than recommended by guidelines for AN inpatient treatment.

KEYWORDS:

• Eating disorders
• anorexia nervosa
• inpatient treatment
• weight restoration
• rates of weight gain

Acknowledgements

The authors thank senior researcher Deborah L. Reas, Ph.D., for her helpful comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The project was internally funded by the Regional Department for Eating Disorders, Oslo University Hospital.