Clinical features of children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa and problematic physical activity

Abstract

Purpose: Problematic physical activity (PPA) is a symptom commonly present in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN). This study aims to refine the clinical description of children with early-onset AN and adolescents with standard-onset AN and associated PPA, in order to better understand their associated features, and to offer them adapted care and physical activity programs.

Methods: 107 participants treated at the Salvator University Hospital Centre of Marseille for AN were retrospectively evaluated by the Exercise Dependence Scale Revised concerning PPA. Other self-report questionnaires were used to evaluate eating disorder, anxiety and depressive symptoms, quality of life, emotions, sleep, and attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity.

Results: In the entire sample, the presence of PPA was associated with significantly higher levels of eating disorder (EDI-2: p = 0.001) and body image concerns (p = 0.002), anxiety (STAI-Y-trait: p = 0.013) and depression (p = 0.006), as well as significantly lower psychological well-being (p < 0.001) and quality of life (p < 0.001) and impaired sleep (PSQI: p = 0.008). The early-onset group showed a lower prevalence of PPA than the standard-onset group (p < 0.05) but their clinical symptomatology, when this symptom was present, was significantly more severe (EDI-2: p < 0.01; BSQ: p < 0.05; CDI: p < 0.05; STAI-Y-trait: p < 0.05).

Conclusion: PPA appears to be associated with more severe features in patients with early-onset AN, which seems to differ from standard-onset. It seems necessary to refine our knowledge on the involvement of PPA in the severity of AN, especially in patients with early-onset AN who remain little studied so far.

Level of evidence: Level V, descriptive study (evaluation data retrospectively studied).

Keywords: Adolescents; Anorexia nervosa; Associated features; Children; Early-onset anorexia nervosa; Problematic physical activity; Standard-onset anorexia nervosa.