Health-Related Quality of Life and Eating Disorders: A Review and Update

Objective: The aim of this article is to provide a narrative review of empirical studies related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and eating disorders and to report recent changes in the measurement of HRQOL in eating disorders. Method: Twenty-five articles of central importance to the topic were identified in a systematic search of six databases. All articles were selected based on a consensus relevancy rating process. Key themes were extracted from the articles and validated by all authors. Results: We identify six themes in the extant empirical literature. Discussion: We discuss these six themes and review them in light of the fact that they are identified in studies using only generic measures of HRQOL. Four recently developed disease-specific HRQOL measures specific to patients with eating disorder are discussed. (C) 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.