Twenty-four-hour food intake in patients with anorexia nervosa and in healthy control subjects

Ad libitum feeding over 24 hours was assessed in underweight restrictor anoretic (RAN) women (n = 8) and matched healthy control subjects (n = 9) in a relatively naturalistic laboratory setting. RAN consumed 828 ± 210 kcal/day (20 ± 6 kcal/day); control ingested 2274 ± 564 kcal/day (41 ± 13 kcal/kg/day). Expressed as macronutrient consumption, RAN, compared to healthy controls, ate less fat (13% vs 31%), more carbohydrate (73% vs 57%), and similar amounts of protein (14% vs 12%). RAN initiated fewer eating episodes than controls (4 vs 7). This study quantitatively confirms the growing body of evidence suggesting that RAN avoid fat-containing foods. Such persistent fat avoidance may significantly contribute to the difficulty RAN experience in gaining and maintaining body weight.