Child and adolescent AN : cardio-metabolic risk a pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Child and adolescent-onset anorexia nervosa and adult cardio-metabolic risk: A pilot study
IRAS ID
103727
Contact name
Lee Hudson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL Institute of Child Health
Research summary
Anorexia Nervosa(AN) is a psychiatric condition characterised by inappropriate body image, obsession with weight-loss and consequent underweight. Peak onset of AN is during adolescence but may occur earlier in childhood. Underweight caused by AN in childhood and adolescence is well known to be associated with a number of immediate and potentially life threatening complications however little research has been published into the longer term effects of AN and its associated underweight.
In contrast, much research has investigated underweight in the womb and during the first year of life with associations found between later heart disease and type 2 diabetes (cardio-metabolic risk. However, there is little published research investigating the relationship between cardio-metabolic risk and underweight during later childhood and adolescence. A number of observations in AN from existing studies point towards a potential for future cardio-metabolic risk. For example, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels have been found in patients who are underweight with AN and some patients who are weight restored appear to re-distribute fat around the centre of the body(a finding which carries higher long-term cardio-metabolic risk).
This study will investigate risk for heart disease and type-2 diabetes by recruiting and following-up women who were once treated for anorexia nervosa as children at Great Ormond Street Hospital and compare findings with age-matched, friend controls. This study will provide pilot data to inform a larger future studies to improve scientific knowledge of the impact of adolescent underweight on later adult life as well as improve clinical care of patients with underweight in the long term.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0476
Date of REC Opinion
25 Sep 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion