BODY-FAT DISTRIBUTION BEFORE AND AFTER WEIGHT-GAIN IN ANOREXIA-NERVOSA

OBJECTIVE: To study abdominal fat distribution in anorexia nervosa sub jects and to assess the effects of initial weight regain on abdominal fat distribution. DESIGN: Longitudinal, clinical study. The baseline m easurement was acquired within four days of admission to the eating di sorders clinic. All patients were treated by re-feeding, reinforced by psychotherapy. Following weight regain of at least 5 kg, a second bod y fat distribution evaluation was performed. Of the 21 subjects evalua ted at baseline, 14 achieved the goal of body weight regain and were r etested. PATIENTS: Fourteen subjects (age: 18-38 y; body mass index: 1 1.5-18.3; relative body weight: 54.9-88.3%). MEASUREMENTS: Total, subc utaneous and visceral abdominal adipose tissue areas at the L4-L5 leve l were evaluated by competed tomography. RESULTS: At baseline the subj ects showed a higher proportion of visceral adipose tissue (% visceral adipose tissue = 55.3+/-26.1). A significant association was observed between body weight and both subcutaneous adipose tissue and total ad ipose tissue. A regain of body weight of 7.3+/-1.6 kg was accompanied by a significant increase in total adipose tissue, comprising both sub cutaneous and visceral adipose tissue. The increase observed in subcut aneous adipose tissue, however, was significantly greater than for vis ceral adipose tissue (212.6% vs 116.8%, respectively, P<0.01). CONCLUS ION: The results of the current study show a higher proportion of visc eral adipose tissue than subcutaneous adipose tissue in anorexia nervo sa subjects. With regain of body weight there is a preferential regain of subcutaneous adipose tissue. These data demonstrate a redistributi on of abdominal adipose tissue with weight regain in anorexia nervosa subjects.