Respiratory muscle weakness and anorexia nervosa

✍ Scribed by Birmingham, C. Laird ;Tan, Adrienne O.

• Book ID: 102157678
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 50 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0276-3478
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.10131

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background

Nutritional recovery in anorexia nervosa (AN) is associated with improved exercise tolerance.

Method

We describe the investigation of a male with AN. Despite nutritional recovery, he complained of impaired exercise tolerance.

Results

Respiratory muscle weakness was demonstrated as the cause of the impaired exercise tolerance.

Discussion

Weakness of the muscles of respiration results from prolonged malnutrition. The diaphragmatic muscle may be slower to recover than other muscles. This can cause impaired exercise tolerance due to shortness of breath on exertion, despite nutritional recovery. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 33: 230–233, 2003.