Effect of anorexia nervosa on linear growth

To study the effect of severe undernutrition on linear growth during adolescence, a report was obtained on the ultimate adult height of 71 patients who had had anorexia nervosa at or before age 16 years. At time of diagnosis (ages 9-16 years) median height percentile was 49; at adult follow-up (ages 18-29 years) the median height percentile was 55. This change favoring growth was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Height percentile was maintained or increased in 45 patients and decreased in 26 patients. In only four patients did it change by more than 20 percentile points downward; in 12 patients height percentile increased by more than 20 points. We conclude that, despite weight loss of up to 45 percent at or before age 16 years, most patients with anorexia nervosa continue to grow in stature according to expected norms.