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Background: and purpose: Exercise has not typically been used as an adjunct in treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aimed to examine the effects of progressive resistance exercise (PREx) on perceived quality of life (QoL) and body composition in adolescents with AN., Materials and Methods: Forty-four adolescents diagnosed with AN were randomly allocated to either PREx or control groups after hospitalization. The PREx group completed twenty-four PREx sessions over two months including three sets of 8-10 repetitions of eight whole-body exercises at a moderate intensity. QoL and body composition were evaluated at baseline and after two months using Health Questionnaire Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and anthropometric measurements., Results: At completion, forty-one participants (n = 19 PREx, and n = 22 controls) with mean age of 12.78 ± 0.88 years and mean body mass index of 18 ± 2.2 kg/m 2 were analyzed. Significant group x time effects were found on SF-36 role physical (RP) scores. Significant improvements with large effect sizes (d > 0.72) were found in RP, and arm circumferences in the PREx group. Spearman association analyses between percent change in anthropometric variables and change in QoL scores showed positive associations with moderate-to-large effect sizes in the PREx group among the following variables: mid-thigh-circumference, physical functioning (PF) and general health (GH); calf-circumference relaxed and body pain; biceps skinfold and GH scores; triceps-skinfold, and role physical (RP) and vitality (VT); supraspinale-skinfold and RP and VT; mid-thigh-skinfold and calf-skinfold and VT., Conclusion: PREx after hospitalization enables modest positive changes in QoL associated to anthropometric changes in adolescents with AN without adverse effects on weight recovery., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Incorporating physical activity (PA) has been a challenge for health care professionals working with anorexia nervosa (AN) patients. This has contributed to partial physical fitness (PFit) recovery that persists after weight restoration. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the relationships between PA, sedentary behaviors, PFit, and quality of life (QoL) in a group of adolescents after hospitalization. Methods: QoL, PA, and sedentary behaviors were measured using the Health-Questionnaire Short-Form 36 (SF-36) and accelerometers, while PFit was assessed through cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition (anthropometry), and strength (six repetition maximum) tests in a total of 63 patients. Results: Light-PA (LPA), moderate-PA (MPA), moderate-to-vigorous-PA (MVPA), and relative sedentary time (%ST) did not meet the recommendations (p < 0.001). Only 22% of the patients met MVPA criteria, and ~82% exceeded %ST. SF-36 scores were lower than normative values except the physical component scale. Absolute cardiorespiratory fitness was reduced (p < 0.001) in 84% of the patients, and was positively associated to body weight, body mass index (BMI), circumferences, and muscle areas. Additional positive significant relationships were found between QoL, muscular strength, and body composition, and negative associations between vigorous-to-very vigorous PA and BMI, skinfolds, and percent body fat. Regression analyses revealed lower body strength as an explanatory factor for improved QoL (OR 1.03, 95%CI 1.00−1.07). Conclusions: PFit and QoL scores are poor after hospitalization. LPA, MPA, and MVPA do not meet recommendations. PFit management—with emphasis on improving muscular fitness—may be a valuable strategy for QoL improvement in AN after hospitalization.

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.

Objective: Low-intensity exercise applied in anorexia nervosa patients has been shown to have a harmless effect on body composition and to effect short-term improvements in muscular strength and agility. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a high-intensity resistance training program designed for adolescents to improve strength and agility in anorexia nervosa restricting-type patients (AN-R)., Methods: From a total of 36 female patients with AN-R, one group (intervention, n = 18) underwent a supervised high-intensity resistance training program lasting 8 weeks, and the other group with no exercise (control, n = 18). Body weight, body mass index, whole-body muscular strength, and agility were assessed before, after, and 4 weeks after training (detraining)., Results: Leg-press, bench-press, and lateral row tests improved significantly (p < 0.001) after 8 weeks of training compared with controls. Improvements were maintained after the detraining period. The training program also showed beneficial effects on agility., Discussion: A high-intensity resistance training program adapted to the recommendations for adolescents in AN-R patients was effective and safe, improving muscular strength in the whole body and the ability to perform daily tasks. However, long-term maintenance of gains seems to be linked to the continuance of training or the use of a maintenance program., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)