Measured physical activity in anorexia nervosa: features and treatment outcome

To assess the role of measured physical activity (PA) in anorexia nervosa treatment outcome, and to compare the PA of patients with anorexia nervosa with age-matched controls.

PA was assessed by means of Sense Wear Armband before and after a cognitive-behavioral inpatient treatment in 53 consecutive females with anorexia nervosa, and in 53 healthy age-matched controls.

At baseline, patients with anorexia nervosa exhibited a higher duration of moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA≥3 Metabolic Equivalent Tasks (METs)) than controls (t = 2.91; p = .004). Dropouts had higher duration (sec) and expenditure (kcal·day(-1)) of MVPA than completers. At the end of treatment, completers had a higher number of daily steps, MVPA duration, and expenditure than controls. However, PA was not correlated to eating disorder psychopathology either before or after treatment.

PA is higher in patients with anorexia nervosa than age-matched controls both before and after treatment, and is associated with treatment dropout.