Update on endocrine disturbances in anorexia nervosa

The marked endocrine changes that occur in anorexia nervosa have aroused a great deal of interest, and over the last decade much research has been conducted in this field. The endocrine disturbances are not specific to this disorder, as they also occur in starvation states secondary to other causes, and they return to normal upon weight restoration. However, emaciation may have profound effects on psychological processes, establishing an intricate circular interaction whereby somatic and psychological manifestations of starvation may continue to act. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the large body of literature concerning endocrine aspects of anorexia nervosa with the main focus on the latest results, which provide leads for potential etiological theories.