Body Composition in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa (COCOMETANNER)

March 25, 2026 updated by: Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Body Composition, Resting Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa

Body Mass Index (BMI) is currently the most widely recommended parameter for identifying underweight subjects. Among eating disorder diseases, anorexia nervosa (AN) is the one with the highest mortality rate and with relapses between 12 and 27%. To date, recovery programs allow approximately 40% of subjects to achieve recovery, 30% demonstrate improvements, and 20% remain chronically affected. These data demonstrate the importance of continuously monitoring changes in weight and body composition of these subjects. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is widely used to determine body composition in AN. BIA provides various parameters, such as lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), and phase angle (PhA). Among these parameters, in addition to LM and FM, PhA has also been used to characterize underweight subjects with AN. In addition to the observed relationship between PhA and body composition in individuals with AN, PhA has also been related to the basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR undergoes changes mainly due to loss of muscle mass and a significant reduction in BMR has been observed in AN subjects. Finally, physical activity represents a significant determinant of body composition and can help regulate BMR.

Therefore, monitoring changes in body composition (LM, FM, and PhA) and indirect indices (lean mass index and fat mass index) using BIA, together with monitoring changes in BMR and physical activity level, could provide important support for the continuous control and definition of the clinical stage of the disease in patients with AN.

The aim of this study is to determine body composition, basal metabolic rate, and level of physical activity in Anorexia Nervosa and normal weight subjects to identify the most consistent parameters to define the clinical stage of the disease in subjects with AN.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Body Mass Index (BMI) is currently the most widely recommended parameter for identifying underweight subjects. Among eating disorder diseases, anorexia nervosa (AN) is the one with the highest mortality rate and with relapses between 12 and 27%. To date, recovery programs allow approximately 40% of subjects to achieve recovery, 30% demonstrate improvements, and 20% remain chronically affected. These data demonstrate the importance of continuously monitoring changes in weight and body composition of these subjects. Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) is widely used to determine body composition in AN. BIA provides various parameters, such as lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), and phase angle (PhA). Among these parameters, in addition to LM and FM, PhA has also been used to characterize underweight subjects with AN. In addition to the observed relationship between PhA and body composition in individuals with AN, PhA has also been related to the basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR undergoes changes mainly due to loss of muscle mass and a significant reduction in BMR has been observed in AN subjects. Finally, physical activity represents a significant determinant of body composition and can help regulate BMR.

Therefore, monitoring changes in body composition (LM, FM, and PhA) and indirect indices (lean mass index and fat mass index) using BIA, together with monitoring changes in BMR and physical activity level, could provide important support for the continuous control and definition of the clinical stage of the disease in patients with AN.

The aim of this study is to determine body composition, basal metabolic rate, and level of physical activity in Anorexia Nervosa and normal weight subjects to identify the most consistent parameters to define the clinical stage of the disease in subjects with AN.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Verbania
      • Oggebbio, Verbania, Italy, 28824
        • Recruiting
        • Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Site Piancavallo
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

30 female adolescents with Anorexia nervosa, according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), hospitalized at the Division of Auxologia, San Giuseppe Hospital, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo, Italy

30 normal weight adolescents recruited at the Mountain Sports Study Center of the Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Italy

Description

Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female sex
  • Age range: 12-18 years
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Hospitalized at the Division of Auxologia, San Giuseppe Hospital, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Piancavallo, Italy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Absence of signed informed consent

Adolescents with normal weight:

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female sex
  • Age range: 12-18 years
  • Normal weight

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Absence of signed informed consent

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Anorexia Nervosa (AN)
Female adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa
Other: Collection of anthropometric and biochemical parameters
Collection of anthropometric parameters biochemical parameters basal metabolic rate body composition questionnaires
Normal weight
Female normal weight adolescents
Other: Collection of anthropometric and biochemical parameters
Collection of anthropometric parameters biochemical parameters basal metabolic rate body composition questionnaires

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fat-free mass
Time Frame: Baseline
Fat-free mass as assessed by bioelectrical impedance
Baseline
Fat mass
Time Frame: Baseline
Fat mass as assessed by bioelectrical impedance
Baseline
Basal Metabolic Rate
Time Frame: Baseline
Basal Metabolic Rate as calculated
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istituto Auxologico Italiano

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

July 12, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 24, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 24, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 25, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 01C409

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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