Psychiatry Investig.  2013 Jun;10(2):101-107.

Medical Findings in Women with Anorexia Nervosa in a Korean Population

• Kim YR
• Son MH
• Nah JC
• Park HA

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Eating disorders are a common clinical problem among young women in Asian countries. The aim of this study is to determine the medical effects of anorexia nervosa (AN) in the Korean population.
METHODS
We comprehensively investigated medical complications including haemodynamic, haematologic, endocrine, and bone density abnormalities in 67 Korean women with AN, together with 194 healthy Korean women of comparable age with a cross-sectional design.
RESULTS
In AN, 36.9% were anaemic, 50.8% were leukopenic, 35.5% were hypoproteinemic, 7.9% were hypokalemic, 9.5% had increased alanine aminotransferase, 6.3% were hyperbilirubinemia, 14.5% were hypercholesterolemia, 14.8% had decreased triiodothyronine. Osteopenia at any one site was identified in 43.3% and an additional 13.4% had osteoporosis. The lowest-ever body mass index was the main determinant of bone mineral density.
CONCLUSION
Our data in Korean patients with AN show high frequencies of laboratory abnormalities for medical complications. This study emphasizes the importance of recognizing AN as a medical risk in young Korean women.

Keyword

Anorexia nervosa; Eating disorder; Medical complication; Bone mineral density; Korean

MeSH Terms

Alanine Transaminase
Anorexia
Anorexia Nervosa
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Body Mass Index
Bone Density
Bone Diseases, Metabolic
Feeding and Eating Disorders
Female
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Osteoporosis
Triiodothyronine
Alanine Transaminase
Triiodothyronine