Changes in heart rate with refeeding in anorexia nervosa: a pilot study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
Nahoko Miyasaka Yoshida1, Kazuhiro Yoshiuchi, Hiroaki Kumano
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. napo@waseda.jp
Objective:
To find differences in heart rate before and after refeeding and to identify which parameters of autonomic activity and endocrine function are associated with these differences.
Methods:
Before and after the start of refeeding, body weight, RR interval (RRI), heart rate variability, endocrine function, and energy expenditure were measured in nine female anorexia nervosa patients.
Results:
After short-term refeeding, mean daytime heart rate rose from 54.9 to 69.4 bpm (P<.05). The changes in sympathetic activity were correlated negatively with the changes in RRI (r=-.933, P<.001). Urine C-peptide, IGF-1, and fT3 increased significantly, and norepinephrine tended to increase.
Conclusion:
We demonstrated that autonomic nervous activity was relevant to changes in heart rate during refeeding, and it is speculated that the increases in insulin secretion, thyroid function, and IGF-1 were responsible for the mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Factors Influencing Heart Rate
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
Bulimia Nervosa
Regulation of Heart Rates
The SNS increases heart rate through the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, which act on beta-1 adrenergic receptors in the heart. This action increases the rate of depolarization in the sinoatrial (SA) node, the heart's...
Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, CO ranges from 5 to 6 L/min, adjusting according to the body's metabolic requirements.
Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output adapts to metabolic demands during stress, physical activity, or illness. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate via the sinoatrial node. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart rate...

