title: Respiratory muscle weakness and anorexia nervosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutritional recovery in anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with improved exercise tolerance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the investigation of a male with AN. Despite nutritional recovery, he complained of impaired exercise tolerance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respiratory muscle weakness was demonstrated as the cause of the impaired exercise tolerance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weakness of the muscles of respiration results from prolonged malnutrition. The diaphragmatic muscle may be slower to recover than other muscles. This can cause impaired exercise tolerance due to shortness of breath on exertion, despite nutritional recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. clbirm@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: C Laird
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Birmingham
authors.forename: Adrienne O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*