Impact of Physiologic Estrogen Replacement on Anxiety Symptoms Body Shape Perception and Eating Attitudes in Adolescent Girls with Anorexia Nervosa: Data from a Randomized Controlled Trial

摘要

ObjectivesAnorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by low weight, aberrant eating attitudes, body image distortion and hypogonadism. Anxiety is a common co-morbid condition. Estrogen replacement reduces anxiety in animal models, and reported variations in food intake across the menstrual cycle may be related to gonadal steroid levels. The impact of estrogen replacement on anxiety, eating attitudes, and body image has not been reported in AN. We hypothesized that physiologic estrogen replacement would ameliorate anxiety and improve eating attitudes, without affecting body image in AN.