Characteristics and Importance of Physical Activity in Women With Anorexia Nervosa

Physical Activity in Anorexia Nervosa: Characteristics and Clinical Significance

This study will determine the importance and the level of physical activity among women with anorexia nervosa, both during inpatient treatment and 1 year after hospital discharge.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Eating Disorders

Detailed Description

Anorexia nervosa is a disorder that causes people to maintain an unhealthily low body weight, often through eating too little or exercising too much. Treatment for anorexia nervosa often begins with a supervised program for raising a person's weight to a healthy level. This study will monitor activity levels during inpatient treatment and for 1 year after hospital discharge in order to determine the impact of physical activity on weight gain during anorexia treatment.

Participation in this study will last until 1 year after participants are discharged from inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa. Discharge is based on each person's progression in treatment and may vary among participants. During the study, participants will have their activity monitored two or three times-at low weight, at 90% of ideal body weight (IBW), and, if the participant is living near the study clinic, within 6 weeks after discharge from the hospital. Two monitoring devices will be attached to participants continuously for 48 hours for the first two assessments and for 72 hours for the third. The first device is a SenseWear armband, which is a wireless monitor strapped to the back of the upper arm that measures body movement and body temperature. The second is an Intelligent Device for Energy Expenditure and Activity (IDEEA) monitor, which consists of five sensors that will be taped to each participant's feet, thighs, and chest. The device measures activity levels and energy expenditure. Participants will complete a blood draw within 1 week of completing activity monitoring assessments. Participants will also complete a computer "work" task at two time points-at 75% of IBW and at 90% of IBW. This task will last 40 minutes and will involve tapping a keyboard in order to earn rewards. Adult participants will also complete a dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test to assess body composition when 90% IBW is reached.

Follow-up assessments will occur 1, 2, 4, and 8 months after discharge. These will involve a phone call or in-person visit in which health, body weight, and eating disorder symptoms are discussed. One year after discharge, participants will attend an in-person assessment that will involve completing questionnaires and an interview. Healthy participants will be recruited as a control group, and these participants will complete one session of activity monitoring, one blood draw, and self-rating forms without follow-up measurements.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 147

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10032
      • New York State Psychiatric Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 40 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Female

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with anorexia nervosa participating in an inpatient treatment program

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Anorexia nervosa (except amenorrhea), as defined by DSM-IV
• Medically and psychiatrically stable

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant current or past medical illness, including diabetes mellitus and heart disease
• Current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychotic disorder, as defined by DSM-IV-TR
• Suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior within the past 3 months
• Drug or alcohol abuse in last 6 months
• Taking psychotropic medication
• Pregnant

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Inpatients with anorexia nervosa; Hospital inpatients with anorexia nervosa
Normal weight controls; Healthy, normal-weight volunteers

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Change in weight	Measured at baseline and 1 year after hospital discharge

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: New York State Psychiatric Institute
• Collaborators: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: B. Timothy Walsh, MD, New York State Psychiatric Institute

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Click here for more information on the Columbia Center for Eating Disorders

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 8, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 8, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): June 10, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 23, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2016
• Last Verified: May 1, 2016

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Physical Activity; Exercise; Anorexia Nervosa
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Anorexia; Anorexia Nervosa; Feeding and Eating Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: #5544/#6624R; R01MH083795 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); DATR A2-AIM (Other Grant/Funding Number: DATR A2-AIM)