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Thursday, December 15, 2011

31 Year-Old Dies After 16-Year Anorexia Battle In 'Worst Case' Doctors Had Ever Seen

A young woman who died after battling a 16-year eating disorder had one of 'the worst' cases of anorexia doctors had ever seen, an inquest heard today.

Kate Chilver, 31, weighed 4.7 stone and was so thin that parts of her stomach and bowel had 'died' through lack of blood supply.

She developed symptoms of the disease aged twelve and spent the rest of her life in specialist medical units until eventually dying from anorexia nervosa.

Doctors revealed that for almost two decades Miss Chilver from Ealing, west London, was dangerously underweight.

A healthy BMI (body mass index) is between 20 and 25 while a reading of less than 15 signals severe anorexia, but hers remained less than 12 and at one stage at fell to just nine.

Dr Frances Connan, a consultant psychologist who treated her at Vincent Square Clinic in south west London, said: 'I'd known Kate since her referral to our service in 2004. 

'She had onset anorexia from the age of about 12, her first admission just before she was 15.

'She had the most severe illness of patient I have ever come across. 

'At times her BMI went down as low as 9. It's extremely rare to see a BMI of less than 10.'

Doctors fed her through a tube in a bid to boost her health but all attempts failed.

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Over the years she was released twice, both for six month periods, but on both occasions her weight quickly returned to life-threatening levels and she was readmitted to eating disorder units and hospitals.

During the 16-year battle it was reported that Miss Chilver didn't respond to medication, was unable to 'engage' in psychotherapy and would 'over exercise'. 

A post mortem found her heart was less than half the size it should have been, and she weighed less than 30kg or 66lb.

Recording a death of natural causes due to anorexia nervosa, Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox said: 'Dr Connan described her as the most unwell patient she had ever treated. 

At hospital medics discovered tissue in her bowel and stomach had died because of poor circulation.
This was because her arteries had closed from pressure inside the body, as there was no intra-abdominal fat to 'cushion' them.

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