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Anthropometric changes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa in response to resistance training

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Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The follow-up of anthropometric percentiles such as triceps and mid-thigh skinfold thickness (TSF, MTSF), mid-upper arm and mid-thigh circumferences (MUAC, MTC), and arm and mid-thigh muscle areas (AMA, MTMA) after a resistance training might allow for detecting nutritional progress of fat and muscular tissue during the treatment of anorexia nervosa restricting (AN-R) type patients.

Methods

A total of 44 AN-R patients were randomized for control (CG 13.0 ± 0.6 years) and intervention (IG 12.7 ± 0.7 years) groups after hospitalization. The intervention group underwent a resistance training program of 8 weeks following the guidelines for healthy adolescents (3 days/week; 70 % of 6 RM). All measurements were obtained prior to starting the program (PRE) and after 8 weeks of training (POST) in both groups. TSF, MTSF, MUAC, and MTC were measured, and AMA and MTMA were calculated. Data were matched with percentile tables for general population. Changes were assessed using statistical tests for categorical data.

Results

The distribution of percentile categories within the groups did not differ statistically after 8 weeks (p > 0.05). After training, 73 % of the patients were at the same percentile interval of MUAC, 18 % higher and 9 % lower, while 30 % of CG was at lower percentile categories. Further, 54 % of the IG patients remained at the same percentile interval of MTC after training, and 36 % higher, while 20 % were at lower categories in the CG. The AMA increased (32 %) after training or remained at the same interval (59 %) in the IG, while the IG showed greater frequency of percentile decreases (45 %).

Conclusions

Anthropometric measurements could be useful for assessing muscle status in AN-R patients during the treatment process. However, exact standard deviation scores should be used instead of percentile categories to increase the sensitivity to changes in TSF, MTSF, MUAC, MTC or AMA.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants and the personnel of the Unit of Psychiatry and Psychology at the hospital for their cooperation. We thank also Texas Tech Writing Center for the contribution in editing this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interests to disclosure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health, Exercise and Sport Sciences, Texas Tech University, 3204 Main St, Lubbock, TX, 79423, USA

    Maria Fernandez-del-Valle

  2. Clinical Research Institute, Texas Tech University, HSC, 3601 4th St, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA

    Eneko Larumbe-Zabala

  3. Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesus, Avda. Menendez Pelayo, 65, 28009, Madrid, Spain

    Montserrat Graell-Berna

  4. School of Doctorate and Research, European University, C/Tajo, s/n, 28670, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain

    Margarita Perez-Ruiz

Authors
  1. Maria Fernandez-del-Valle
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  2. Eneko Larumbe-Zabala
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  3. Montserrat Graell-Berna
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  4. Margarita Perez-Ruiz
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Correspondence to Maria Fernandez-del-Valle.

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Fernandez-del-Valle, M., Larumbe-Zabala, E., Graell-Berna, M. et al. Anthropometric changes in adolescents with anorexia nervosa in response to resistance training. Eat Weight Disord 20, 311–317 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-015-0181-4

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