title: Eating behavior in anorexia nervosa: before and after treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess eating behavior in patients with anorexia nervosa before and after weight normalization and healthy controls using a standardized, multiple-item lunch meal paradigm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients were studied shortly after inpatient admission and again after gaining to a BMI ≥ 19.5 kg m(-2) . Fifteen healthy controls were studied twice, ∼2-3 months apart.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When underweight, patients with AN consumed fewer total calories (364 ± 208 kcal) and a lower percentage of calories from fat (18% ± 10%) compared to controls (775 ± 228 kcal, p = 0.001; 38% ± 7%, p = 0.001). After weight normalization, despite a modest increase in total calories (364 ± 208 kcal vs. 516 ± 273 kcal, p = 0.04) and in percent of calories from fat (18% ± 10% vs. 23% ± 9%, p = 0.04), patients continued to consume fewer total calories and a reduced percent of calories from fat compared to controls (758 ± 346 kcal, p = 0.03; 38% ± 18%, p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with AN, even after acute treatment, consume fewer total calories and fewer calories from fat, compared to healthy controls. The reduced overall intake and persistent avoidance of fat may contribute to relapse, and therefore are potential therapeutic targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA. lsm16@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Laurel E S
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schebendach
authors.forename: Lindsay P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bodell
authors.forename: Rebecca M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Shingleton
authors.forename: B Timothy
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male