THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF EATING DISORDERS IN FYN COUNTY, DENMARK, 1977-1986

The occurrence of anorexia nervosa and bulimia in Fyn County, Denmark is described. Incidence was estimated from national and local registers. The DSM-III-R criteria of one or both eating disorders were met by 104 patients. The incidence of anorexia nervosa for females 10 to 24 years of age was 11.0 per 100,000 per year. In the same population, the incidence of bulimia was 5.5 per 100,000 per year. Prevalence was estimated from questionnaires to and interviews with general practitioners. There were 193 cases; the prevalence of anorexia nervosa was estimated at 1:780 (patient years/total population years), and the prevalence of bulimia at 1:1480, in the high-risk population: females 15-19 years of age. Sixty percent of the anorexia nervosa patients, but only 30% of the bulimia patients, were admitted to hospital; this is an important difference in regard to estimation of occurrence from registers.