Research on energy expenditure in individuals with eating disorders: a review.

OBJECTIVE

This study reviews the published research on energy expenditure in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), and binge eating disorder (BED).

METHOD: Individual studies are reviewed and their results summarized.

RESULTS

The most consistent finding is a reduction in resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients with AN, which increases with increased energy intake and body weight. Data regarding BN are inconsistent. Three available studies in subjects with BED have not found evidence of changes in energy expenditure corrected for lean body mass compared with obese non-binge eaters.

DISCUSSION: The ability to measure REE reliably and cost-effectively may aid in the refeeding of patients with AN in whom REE is reduced. Changes in individuals with BN and BED have yet to be consistently identified.