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Exercise level linked to heart rate in adolescents with eating disorders
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Exercise level and type are associated with heart rates and length of hospital stays among adolescents with eating disorders, according to a paper presented at the 2013 Meeting of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.
The retrospective study assessed exercise levels of 300 inpatient adolescents with eating disorders (267 girls). Percentage median body weight, menstrual status, supine heart rate, supine systolic and diastolic blood pressures, orthostatic heart rate and blood pressure, and length of hospital stay were all examined in relation to exercise level. Boys and participants on hormonal contraceptives were excluded from any analysis involving menstrual status.
Participants were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (35.7%), bulimia nervosa (6%) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (58.3%). The mean age of patients in the study was 15.7 years; the mean percentage median body weight was 85.6%; and 27.8% of the girls had normal menses.
Exercise levels were rated as heavy (6 or more hours a week), moderate (3 to 5 hours a week), mild (1 to 2 hours a week) and none. More than half (52.3%) participated in heavy exercise, 20% in moderate, 10.7% in mild and 13.7% did not exercise. Some of the adolescents also participated in team sports (36.4%).
According to researchers, exercise levels were associated with supine heart rate (heavy: 53, moderate: 57; mild: 65; none: 59; P=.001) and length of hospital stay (heavy: 15.8 days; moderate: 12.4; mild: 11.3; none: 15.4; P=.023).
“Medical practitioners should be aware that patients reporting heavy exercise and team sport participation may present with lower heart rates,” researchers wrote. “Patients endorsing heavy exercise may require longer inpatient stays to reach medical stability.”
For more information:
Pih JM. Abstract #53. Presented at: Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine 2013; March 13-16, 2013; Atlanta.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.