Regular Article

Twenty-year follow-up of bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders not otherwise specified

  1. Pamela K. Keel PhD1,*,
  2. Julie A. Gravener BA2,
  3. Thomas E. Joiner Jr. PhD1,
  4. Alissa A. Haedt MA3

Article first published online: 28 AUG 2009

DOI: 10.1002/eat.20743

Issue

International Journal of Eating Disorders

International Journal of Eating Disorders

Volume 43, Issue 6, pages 492–497, September 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Keel, P. K., Gravener, J. A., Joiner, T. E. and Haedt, A. A. (2010), Twenty-year follow-up of bulimia nervosa and related eating disorders not otherwise specified. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43: 492–497. doi: 10.1002/eat.20743

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

  2. 2

    Department of Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

  3. 3

    Department of Psychology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

*Department of Psychology, Florida State University, 1107 W. Call St., Tallahassee, Florida 32306

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 AUG 2010
  2. Article first published online: 28 AUG 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 JUN 2009

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Keywords:

  • bulimia nervosa;
  • eating disorder NOS;
  • outcome;
  • prevalence

Abstract

Objective

This study reports 20-year outcome of bulimia nervosa (BN) and related eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) and point prevalence of BN and EDNOS for a cohort of women and men in late adolescence (mean age = 20 ± 2 years), adulthood (30 ± 2 years), and mid-life (40 ± 2 years).

Method

N = 654 women and men, 73% of those assessed in 1982, completed 20-year follow-up in a two-stage design including questionnaires and structured clinical interviews.

Results

Approximately 75% of women with BN were in remission at 20-year follow-up, and outcome did not differ significantly between BN and EDNOS. Eating disorder point prevalence declined in women but not men from late adolescence to mid-life.

Discussion

Despite patterns of improvement in women, 4.5% reported a clinically significant eating disorder at mid-life, suggesting the need for more research on potential risk factors in this age group, such as pressures for women to maintain a youthful appearance. © 2009 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2010; 43:492–497

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