High‐Caloric Realimentation and Mental and Physical Well‐Being in Patients With Extreme Anorexia Nervosa. A Prospective Study.
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| Title: | High‐Caloric Realimentation and Mental and Physical Well‐Being in Patients With Extreme Anorexia Nervosa. A Prospective Study. |
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| Authors: | Voderholzer, Ulrich (AUTHOR), Silbernagl, Juliane (AUTHOR), Haas, Verena (AUTHOR), Cuntz, Ulrich (AUTHOR), Naab, Silke (AUTHOR), Quadflieg, Norbert (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | European Eating Disorders Review. May2026, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p835-844. 10p. |
| Subjects: | Prevention of mental depression, Effect sizes (Statistics), Food consumption, Body mass index, Leanness, Patient safety, T-test (Statistics), Questionnaires, Psychological well-being, Body image, Medically unexplained symptoms, Treatment effectiveness, Hospital emergency services, Longitudinal method, Anorexia nervosa, Psychological tests, Psychosocial factors, Weight gain, Pathological psychology |
| Geographic Terms: | Germany |
| Abstract: | Objective: While high caloric realimentation (HCR) is increasingly recommended for quick weight restoration of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN), the development of AN‐specific psychopathology and somatic symptoms during HCR have so far insufficiently been studied. Method: Patients hospitalised for the treatment of AN received oral realimentation starting with 2000 kcal under close medical monitoring and a substitution regimen. Weekly over the initial 6 weeks of treatment, assessments included body weight, drive for thinnesss, body dissatisfaction, depression, and somatic symptoms. Results: In 46 patients (mean age 27.57 years, 2 males, 44 females), the body mass index increased from 12.6 (SD 1.1) at baseline to 14.4 (SD 1.0) kg/m2 (p < 0.001) at week 6 (d = 2.57). Drive for thinnesss did not change (28.9 [SD 10.2] to 27.7 [SD 10.8]; p = 0.102), while body dissatisfaction increased slightly from 37.3 (SD 7.8) to 39.1 (SD 9.2; p = 0.019; d = 0.41). Depression and somatic symptoms decreased significantly (p < 0.001) with large effect sizes (d = 1.09, d = 0.90, respectively). No case of refeeding syndrome was encountered. Discussion: HCR was medically safe and associated with a decrease in depressive and somatic symptoms at only slight increase in body dissatisfaction. Fast realimentation brings patients with extreme AN quickly out of a weight range dangerous to their health. Key Points: Bringing the patient in a more healthy weight range is a primary aim of treatment for anorexia nervosaQuick high‐caloric realimentation with prophylactic phosphate and thiamine substitution under close clinical surveillance is safeQuick weight gain under clinical surveillance does not negatively affect mental and physical well‐being of patientsDepression, gastrointestinal afflictions and somatic complaints decreased during treatment and quick realimentantion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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