Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unreported sauna use in anorexia nervosa: Evidence from the world-wide-web

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Weight loss methods employed in anorexia nervosa (AN) are vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, enemas, suppositories, ipecac, weight loss medications and inadequate insulin in diabetics. Some methods result in weight loss from fluid depletion and not a reduction in body fat. Sauna use causes rapid fluid loss, but has not been reported in the medical literature as a weight loss strategy used in AN. We found reports of sauna use in AN on the world-wide-web are rare. We hypothesize that the warming caused by the use of sauna, may result in physical improvement in AN and thereby reduce its acceptability as a weight loss strategy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gutierrez E., Vazquez R., Beumont P.J.V.: Do people with anorexia nervosa use sauna baths? A reconsideration of heat-treatment in Anorexia Nervosa. Eating Behaviors, 3, 133–142, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Mitchell J.E., Pyle R.L., Eckert E.: Sauna abuse as a clinical feature of bulimia nervosa. Psychosomatics, 32, 417–419, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bruch H.: Eating disorders: Obesity, anorexia nervosa and the person within. London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  4. American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., Washington, DC, APA, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  5. World Health Organization. International classification of mental disorders, revision 10 (ICD-10). Geneva, WHO, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kauppinen K.: Facts and fables about sauna. Ann. NY Acad. Sci., 813, 654–662, 1997.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Johnson C., Powers P.S., Dick R.: Athletes and eating disorders: The national collegiate athletic association study. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 26, 179–88, 1999.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Peterson A.L., Kelleher W.J., Talcott W., Smith S.D.: Bulimic weight-loss behaviors in military versus civilian weight-management programs. Mil. Med., 160, 616–621, 1995.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Valtakari P.: The sauna and bathing in different countries. Ann. Clin. Res., 20, 230–235, 1988.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Health Education Library for People (HELP): Gadgets for weight reduction. [cited 2001 July 22]: [8 screens]. Available from URL: http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/weight/chap10.htm

    Google Scholar 

  11. Medline on SilverPlatter 1970-2000 [software on CDROM]. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Boston, SilverPlatter, 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Sundgot-Borgen J.: Risk and trigger factors for the development of eating disorders in female elite athletes. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 26, 414–419, 1994.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. No authors listed. Eating Disorders. [cited 2001 Sept 16]: [17 screens]. Available at URL: http://www.sportsdoctor.com/chg/eating_disorders.html

  14. The Finnish Sauna Society: A recommended sauna procedure. [cited 2002 Jan 22]: [5 screens]. Available at URL: http://www.sauna.fi/pages/recomm.htm

  15. No authors listed: Tervetuloa anoreksia- ja bulimiatukisivuille. [cited 2002 May 15]: [1 screen]. Available at URL: http://www.syomishairioistentuki.fi

  16. Pfalzinstitut für kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie. Essstörungen. [cited 2001 Oct 20]: [17 screens]. Available at URL: http://home.t-online.de/home/pfalzinstitut/essinfol.html

  17. No authors listed: Personal Website. [cited 2001 Nov 24]: [7 screens]. Available at URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Palace/7657/cbo1/story.html

  18. Barbara L.: Personal Website. [cited 2001 Nov 15]: [1 screen]. Available at URL: http://www.barbaralawrence.com/bitterice/index.html

    Google Scholar 

  19. O’Neill C.B.: Starving for attention. New York, Dell Publishing Co, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lawrence B.K.: Bitter Ice: A Memoir of Love, Food, and Obsession. New York, William Morrow & Co, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Luck P., Wakeling A.: Altered thresholds for thermoregulatory sweating and vasodilatation in anorexia nervosa. Br. Med. J., 281, 906–908, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gull W.: Anorexia nervosa (apepsia hysterica, anorexia hysterica). Trans. Clin. Soc. Lond., 7, 22–28, 1874.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Crisp A.H.: Arousal, physical activity, and energy balance in eating and body weight and shape disorders. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 4, 627–649, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Nova online. Dying to be thin, Share your story. [cited 2001 Nov 2001]: [3 screens]. Available at URL: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/story.html

  25. Medivia.se: Anorexia Nervosa. [cited 2001 July 29]: [5 screens]. Available at URL: http://www.medivia.se/AN/anorexi.html

  26. Nishita J.K., Knopes K.D., Ellinwood E.H., Rockwell W.J.K.: Hypothermia and abnormalities in thermoregulation in patients with anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 5, 713–725, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Bulimia nerviosa and Anorexia nerviosa. Centre d’Autoajuda i Lluita contra la Bulimia i l’Anorexia. [cited 2001 Dec 19]: [3 screens]. Available from: URL: http://www.centrealba.es/espanol/BA_dcha.htm

  28. Gutierrez E., Vazquez R.: Heat in the treatment of patients with anorexia nervosa. Eat. Weight Disord., 6, 49–52, 2001.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Birmingham C.L., Gutierrez E., Jonat L., Beumont P.: Randomized controlled trial of warming in anorexia nervosa. Int. J. Eat. Disord., 35, 234–238, 2004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Bergh C., Brodin U., Lindberg G., Södersten P.: Randomized controlled trial of a treatment for anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 99, 9486–9491, 2002.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere University, Finland

    A. Vähäsoini (Master’s degree student)

  2. Departamento de Psicología Clínica y Psicobiología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Universitario Sur, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

    R. Vazquez & E. Gutierrez M.D.

  3. St. Paul’s Hospital, Eating Disorder Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    C. L. Birmingham

Authors
  1. A. Vähäsoini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Vazquez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. L. Birmingham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. Gutierrez M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to E. Gutierrez M.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vähäsoini, A., Vazquez, R., Birmingham, C.L. et al. Unreported sauna use in anorexia nervosa: Evidence from the world-wide-web. Eat Weight Disord 9, 50–55 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325045

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03325045

Keywords

Search

Navigation