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

Abstract

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 evidence of 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 reliably and cost-effectively measure REE may aid in the refeeding of patients with AN where REE is reduced. Changes in BN and BED subjects have yet to be identified consistently.