title: Changes in body composition and fat distribution after short-term weight gain in patients with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: The most commonly described psychologic abnormality associated with anorexia nervosa is a distorted perception of body weight and shape. This perception may contribute to the anorexic patient's resistance to gaining weight even when it is a medical necessity. The purpose of this study was to assess body-composition and fat-distribution changes after short-term weight gain in 26 female anorexia nervosa patients 27.6 +/- 6.6 (mean +/- SD) y of age, with a body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2) of 16.5 +/- 1.9. They participated in a refeeding protocol both as inpatients (n = 21) and as outpatients (n = 5) until they achieved maximum weight gain. Body-composition and fat-distribution changes were measured by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and skinfold thickness and circumference measurements. A mean weight gain of 6.7 +/- 5.3 kg (P < 0.001) was observed, which included significant increases in body fat (P < 0.001), lean body mass (P < 0.05), and bone mineral content (P < 0.01), with body fat being the component that increased the most. When measured by DXA, fat gain was not significantly different among the three central regions: subscapular, 1.7 +/- 1.2 kg; waist, 1.8 +/- 1.3 kg; and thigh, 1.5 +/- 1.0 kg (P = 0.10). Thus, although fat was the largest component of the weight gained, there was no preferential fat deposition in any one area and the female gynoid body shape was maintained.
authors.affiliation: School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Orphanidou
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: McCargar
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Birmingham
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Belzberg
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D001824:Body Constitution; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*