Traits of Anorexics

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Anorexics are more likely to have been born in March or April than other times of the year, according to a study conducted by British researchers.

Researchers at Middlesex Hospital Medical School and St. George's Hospital Medical School, both in London, studied 980 anorexics between 1960 and 1995, comparing their season of birth with the general population. They found anorexics were more likely to be born in March and April and were more likely to have a mother who was preoccupied with her weight and appearance but maintained a relatively normal body weight.

"Such women, at normal body weight, are likely to be fertile, but the disorder may be seasonally related, and their fertility fluctuates correspondingly ... Births in the early spring would reflect conception in the preceding summer, which may be a time when the disorder is less severe," writes lead author Arthur Crisp, a professor at St. George's Medical Hospital.

Other studies by Crisp, published in the journal European Eating Disorders Review looked at gender differences in anorexics. One piece of research involved 751 females and 62 males with the disease. It revealed the onset of illness typically occurred later in males. Crisp believes this could be attributed to differences in the onset of puberty.

In yet another study, two-thirds of girls reported feeling overweight by age 16 and reported attempts to diet. Researchers note the rejection of food characteristic of anorexia nervosa brings relief from the panic of being overweight or even normal weight, which can be brought on by the dramatic growth that occurs in puberty.

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SOURCE: European Eating Disorders Review, 2006;14:144-152