An analysis of excessive running in the development of activity anorexia.
Food restriction combined with activity wheel access produces activity anorexia: a combination of excessive running, reduced food intake and rapid weight loss. Temporal distributions of running in activity anorexia were examined in a reversal design with one of 2 x 2 x 2 factorial combinations (pelleted-vs-powdered food x deprivation x wheel access) as the treatment condition. Wheel revolutions were recorded in 30 min intervals; body weights, food and water intakes were measured daily. Only wheel access combined with food deprivation reliably produced activity anorexia. Excessive running occurred in the absence of schedule-induced polydipsia, was unaffected by food form, and showed distributional characteristics of facultative behavior. These results are inconsistent with schedule-induced behavior explanations. Running distributions appeared consistent with chronobiological models with light/dark onset and feeding serving as zeitgebers.
Beneke
W M
WM
Human Nutrition Research Program, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City 65102-0029, USA.
Schulte
S E
SE
vander Tuig
J G
JG
D000818:Animals; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D011603:Psychophysiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012528:Satiety Response / Q000502:physiology*