Anorexia Is Linked to Stunted Growth
A recent study suggests that girls with anorexia nervosa are found to have stunted growth in adulthood and may not reach their full height potential.1
They hypothesized that stunted growth due to anorexia nervosa could be an indicator of other health complications of the illness that could have adverse impacts on one’s overall health, affecting bone health, cognitive function, and later reproductive issues.
The study included 255 girls who were hospitalized for anorexia nervosa, with all participants approximately 15 years of age at the time of admission. Height and weight was evaluated at admission, during hospitalization, and during adulthood.
Overall, the results showed that while pre-morbid height was similar to those expected in average adolescents, adult height was lower than expected, compared with estimated height determined by the average of the patient’s parents’ height.
“Our findings emphasize the importance of early and intensive intervention aiming at normalization of body weight, which may result in improved growth and allow patients to reach their full height potential,” said study author Dalit Modan-Moses, MD, in a press release.2 “Early diagnosis and treatment could prevent, or at least reduce, the risk of these complications. This study may have implications for the management of malnutrition in adolescents with other chronic diseases in order to achieve optimal adult height and bone health.”
—Leigh Precopio
References:
1. Modan-Moses D, Yaroslavsky A, Pinhas-Hamiel O, et al. A prospective longitudinal assessment of linear growth and adult height in female adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Published online August 20, 2020. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa510
2. Anorexia may stunt young women’s growth. News Release. The Endocrine Society. August 17, 2020. Accessed August 20, 2020. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2020/anorexia-may-stunt-young-womens-growth