Eating disorder patient referrals from a population region 1977-1986.

Three hundred and forty-three eating disorder patients (50% anorexia nervosa, 37% bulimia and 13% atypical eating disorder) were seen by the eating disorder service in the Wellington (New Zealand) region between 1977 and 1986. Ninety-six per cent were female. Annual rate of referral for anorexia nervosa remained stable at 5 per 100,000 population (34 per 100,000 females aged 15-29 years). Annual referral rate for bulimia increased from 6 to 44 per 100,000 females aged 15-29 years.