What predicts maintenance of weight for adolescents medically hospitalized for anorexia nervosa?

We assessed the relationship between outcomes at one year and a variety of possible predictors among a group of adolescents who were hospitalized for medical complications associated with adolescent onset AN. We reviewed the 12 month outcomes of 41 adolescent patients admitted for medical complications associated with AN to our center. Data on initial percent ideal body weight, length of initial hospitalization, and percent ideal body weight at discharge from first admission were collected. Our primary outcome measure was percent ideal body weight obtained 12 months after initial discharge. Using multiple linear regression to predict percent ideal body weight achieved at 12 months postdischarge, we found that only percent of ideal body weight at discharge predicted better outcomes. Response to initial hospitalization in terms of weight gain, rather than admission weight or length of initial hospital stay, predict better outcomes at 12 months. These results suggest the need for further study of predictors of response to intensive hospital treatment in order to improve initial response rates and ultimately to better outcomes postdischarge.