Reports from C. Thiels and co-researchers add new data to research in eating disorders.

"Purpose of review To consider clinical, ethical and legal approaches to forced feeding in patients with anorexia nervosa in the light of recent literature. Recent findings An Australian retrospective record analysis compared 27 coercive with 96 informal hospitalizations and found more previous inpatient treatments, comorbidities, and a lower BMI at admission of 13.2 (SD 1.67) kg/m(2), but no significantly different weight gain [4.96 (SD 6.56) kg]," investigators in Bielefeld, Germany report (see also Eating Disorders).

"In a higher proportion of the involuntary group a re-feeding syndrome, treatment in a locked ward, and tube feeding were recorded. In Germany 25 women with anorexia nervosa with an admission BMI of 12.09 (SD 1.51) kg/m(2) gained 12.44 (SD 1.21) kg. Twenty were treated involuntarily and 22 received tube feeding - 20 of whom were fed via a transdermal duodenal tube, four of whom as voluntary patients. As full recovery is possible in life-threatening anorexia nervosa, detention is sometimes justifiable and may indeed be necessary. Compulsory admission, however, does not necessarily imply a need for forced or tube feeding. Highly skilled nursing seems ...