Epidemiological data on anorexia nervosa in Japan

An epidemiological survey on anorexia nervosa was performed in Japanese hospitals in 1985 and 1992 using a questionnaire. The reported number of patients with anorexia nervosa was 2391 from 732 institutions. From these data, the total number of anorexia nervosa patients treated in 1985 in Japanese hospitals was estimated to be about 3500–4500. In 1992, the reported number of patients with AN was 2247. The total number of AN patients treated in 1992 was estimated to be about 4500–4600, which is a little higher than that in 1985 (3500–4500). The prevalence was 3.6–4.5 per 100000 among the general population, 6.3–9.7 per 10 5 among the female population, and 25.2–30.7 per 10 5 among the 13–29 year-old female population.