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The relation of weight suppression and body mass index to symptomatology and treatment response in anorexia nervosa
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The relation of weight suppression and body mass index to symptomatology and treatment response in anorexia nervosa

Laura A Berner, Jena A Shaw, Ashley A Witt and Michael R Lowe
Journal of abnormal psychology (1965), v 122(3), pp 694-708
Aug 2013
PMID: 24016010
url
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033930View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

treatment weight suppression Anorexia nervosa outcome
Weight suppression, the difference between highest past weight and current weight, is a robust predictor of clinical characteristics of bulimia nervosa; however, the influence of weight suppression in anorexia nervosa (AN) has been little studied, and no study to date has investigated the ways in which the relevance of weight suppression in AN may depend upon an individual’s current body mass index (BMI). The present study investigated weight suppression, BMI, and their interaction as cross-sectional and prospective predictors of psychological symptoms and weight in AN. Women with AN completed depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II) and eating disorder symptomatology measures (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire and Eating Disorders Inventory-3) at residential treatment admission ( N = 350) and discharge ( N = 238). Weight suppression and BMI were weakly correlated ( r = −.22). At admission, BMI was positively correlated with all symptom measures except Restraint and depression scores. Weight suppression was also independently positively correlated with all measures except Weight Concern and Body Dissatisfaction subscale scores. In analyses examining discharge scores (including admission values as covariates), the admission weight suppression X BMI interaction consistently predicted post-treatment psychopathology. Controlling for weight gain in treatment and age, higher admission weight suppression predicted lower discharge scores (less symptom endorsement) among those with lower BMIs; among those with higher BMIs, higher weight suppression predicted higher discharge scores. These results are the first to demonstrate that absolute and relative weight status are joint indicators of AN severity and prognosis. These findings may have major implications for conceptualization and treatment of AN.

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80 citations in Scopus

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#5 Gender Equality
#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Psychology, Clinical
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
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