Decrease in resting metabolic rate during abstinence from bulimic behavior

Bulimia nervosa is a disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging to prevent weight gain. The resting metabolic rate (the energy requirement of the body in a resting state) in bulimics is usually lower than normal. The lower metabolic rate makes it easier to gain weight, which may encourage bulimic behavior. Most studies examining resting metabolic rate in bulimics that have been performed in a controlled environment only examined the metabolic rate of subjects who restrained from binging and purging behavior. This study examined resting metabolic rates of bulimics in the controlled environment of a hospital during one week of active binge eating and purging and during one week of abstinence. The resting metabolic rate was measured in eight patients actively engaging in bulimic behavior one week after admittance to a hospital. At the end of the week, the patients were restrained from such behavior for seven weeks, at which time resting metabolic rate was again measured. Resting metabolic rate significantly decreased after the bulimic behavior had been restrained, as did caloric intake and thyroid hormone levels. These results indicate that the binge eating phase of bulimic behavior may result in an increased resting metabolic rate, possibly by stimulating thyroid hormone activity. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)