Abstract
Body weight is frequently of clinical relevance in eating disorders. This is especially the case in anorexia nervosa, because the degree of underweight has detrimental medical consequences. The weight criterion used to diagnose this eating disorder age-dependently corresponds to absolute values for the body mass index between the fifth and tenth percentile. A body mass index of less than 13 kg/m2 in the acute stage of the disorder is often associated with longstanding underweight. Patients who were underweight prior to the onset of the disorder achieve lower weights at referral than those patients with premorbid overweight. Present day body weight research, which mainly focusses on obesity, has led to the identification of relevant regulatory circuits. Leptin is a hormone synthesized in adipocytes that is involved in the regulation of energy intake and expenditure. In the acute phase of anorexia nervosa serum leptin levels are exceedingly low, however, after therapeutically induced weight gain levels exceed those of controls. Pathophysiological implications are discussed.
Translated title of the contribution | What relevance has modern weight-research for eating disorders? |
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Original language | German |
Journal | Fortschritt und Fortbildung in der Medizin |
Volume | 22 |
Pages (from-to) | 163-176+335 |
ISSN | 0170-3331 |
Publication status | Published - 1998 |