Energy cost of physical activity in patients with anorexia nervosa

• Published in: European eating disorders review Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 237 - 244
• Main Authors: Platte, Petra, Lebenstedt, Marion, Rüddel, Heinz, Pirke, Karl-Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.05.2000
• Subjects: activity-induced thermogenesis; anorexia nervosa; energy expenditure; physical activity
• ISSN: 1072-4133; 1099-0968
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0968(200005)8:3<237::AID-ERV325>3.0.CO;2-F

To assess the amount of energy cost for a standardized physical activity, activity‐induced thermogenesis (AIT) was measured in eight hyperactive and eight sedentary patients with anorexia nervosa as well as in 14 sport students and 14 sedentary controls. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) and AIT were measured by indirect calorimetry. RMR was measured after an overnight fast and began 20 min after the placement of the hood and lasted for 20 min. For the next 10 min subjects had to ride a recumbent bicycle ergometer (25 W) and AIT was measured. Absolute RMR in both anorectic groups was significantly lower than in both normal weight groups, but after adjusting for lean body mass (LBM) RMR did not differ among the groups. Absolute AIT was significantly lower in hyperactive anorectic patients and in sport students compared to the controls. After adjusting for LBM AIT was still significantly lower in the hyperactive anorectic group and in the group of sport students compared to the control group. These results indicate that despite severe underweight and biological changes in muscles anorectic patients still have an energy sparing metabolism during moderate physical activity. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.