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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Using the Activity-based Anorexia Rodent Model to Study the Neurobiological Basis of Anorexia Nervosa
Published on: October 22, 2015
World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus statement on candidate biomarkers for
Hubertus Himmerich1,2, Johanna Louise Keeler1, Joseph A King3
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, Centre for Research in Eating and Weight Disorders (CREW), London, UK.
Objectives:
This World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) consensus paper aims to summarise and evaluate the published study results on objectively measurable biological markers associated with anorexia nervosa (AN).
Methods:
The relevant literature was reviewed by the WFSBP Task Forces on Eating Disorders and on Biological Markers, and a consensus regarding the significance of the published evidence was reached.
Results:
Candidate biological markers that have been associated with AN include clinical (e.g. body weight), molecular (e.g. genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, immunological, metabolomic), cellular (e.g. leukocytes), neuroimaging (e.g. structure, function, connectivity), digital, cardiac and neurophysiological parameters. Some clinical and laboratory parameters are risk markers in clinical practice. Biological markers have pathophysiological relevance in understanding the biological and metabolic pathophysiology of AN and its physical health consequences. Few studies have examined pharmacogenetics or therapeutic drug monitoring as tools to monitor and guide the treatment of AN.
Conclusions:
Biological markers will hopefully soon enable clinicians to intervene earlier in a more targeted manner to mitigate treatment resistance. However, the current scientific basis for most biological markers are group comparisons only. Studies on sensitivity, specificity and the prognostic value of these markers are lacking.
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