Rates of weight gain during specialised inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackground: 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 sub...