Grip Strength Data for Individuals with Severe Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Objective: This retrospective study compiled grip strength data of patients with severe anorexia nervosa to assess associations among grip strength, anorexia nervosa severity, depression, and physiological comorbidities.

Design: 475 patients with severe anorexia nervosa admitted to an inpatient hospital and completed a grip strength assessment at admission and discharge. Depression was diagnosed via clinical interview. Independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests compared difference in grip strength and anthropometric measures between anorexia nervosa subtypes. Linear and logistic regressions assessed associations among grip strength, depression, and physiological measures.

Results: The cohort was 91.8% female (M age: 31.8 ± 11.7 years). At admission, patients had an average body mass index of 13.8 ± 2.4 kg/m² with 97.7% exhibiting impaired right-hand grip strength for their sex and age. Weaker right grip strength was associated with admission lower body mass index, worsening bone mineral density z-scores, and lower serum prealbumin (all p’s<.05) for both sexes. Patients with binge-purge anorexia nervosa had significantly stronger right grip strength (M:19.0 ± 7.8 kg) compared to patients with restricting anorexia nervosa (M:16.9 ± 7.9 kg), p=0.003.

Conclusion: Severe malnutrition from anorexia nervosa was associated with profound deficits in grip strength, medical comorbidities and disease severity, but was not associated with depression.