Relevance of a standard measurement of undernutrition to the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa: Use of Quetelet's Body Mass Index (BMI)

Abstract

Quetelet's Index provides a measure of nutritional status which is both objective and easy to calculate. A review of the normative data published in the literature indicates that a BMI value of 16 provides a convenient criterion for the recognition of significant undernutrition. This value was applied successfully to a group of 150 anorexia nervosa patients. On the other hand, a BMI of over 18 appeared appropriate in the case of a small group of 22 bulimia nervosa subjects.