Anorexia, a silent epidemic that mainly affects women: how can the effectiveness of therapies be improved?
1% of the Italian population deal with the disorder. Key markers must be taken into consideration, including weight, body mass index and hydration markers, to study personalized rehabilitation paths
THE’Anorexia Nervosa It mainly affects women: 1% of the Italian population gives accounts with this eating disorderAnd In 90% cases concern girls, girls and ladies, for a total of more than 540 thousand people. A silent epidemic difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms become evident once the disorder is rooted, and consequently difficult to cure. But what can make the difference during therapy? Regardless of the genre, Key markers must be taken into considerationincluding weight, body mass indexfat mass, lean mass, body cell mass, phase corner and hydration markers, to study highly personalized rehabilitation paths.
Body composition
It proves it a new study, published on Nutrients and conducted by Center for the treatment of food disorders of Villa Miralago (Varese) and by the University of Milanmade on 79 patients with anorexia nervosa, hospitalized for at least six months in the Varese structure. During the search, the medical records were analyzed for Check the anthropometric and body composition parameterswith assessments made at the beginning of the rehabilitation path, after 3 and 6 months. The data collected show the need to plan in a dynamic and personalized way the assumption of calories And proteinin order to guarantee not only weight recovery, but also a better body compositionboth essential for the well -being of patients. «Anorexia nervosa is a serious psychiatric disorder characterized by deep nutritional deficits and significant alterations in body composition, cell integrity and hydration « , he explains Eugenia Dozioclinical dietician, specialized in eating and nutrition disorders, among the authors of research.
Calorie and protein intake
«Nutritional rehabilitation is essential not only for the restoration of weight, but also to improve body composition and metabolic functions. However, The optimal strategies to integrate caloric and protein intake in order to obtain a balanced recovery remain little explored. Our study focused on the analysis of the interaction between calorie and protein contribution over time, evaluating their effects on Quantitative parameters (weight and body mass index) and qualitative (body composition and cellular health)with the aim of identifying predictive markers of an optimal recovery and guide tailor -made nutritional interventions ».
Flexible nutritional strategies
The personalized diet, which focused on calorie and protein intake over time, has given excellent fruits, favoring an early recovery of the fat masswhile the protein intake was crucial for preserve the lean mass and encourage cell regeneration. «The effects of the interaction between calorie and protein intake revealed dynamic changes in body composition, indicating that There is no unique and static nutritional strategy, but that the path must be progressively adapted. This study underlines the importance of flexible and adaptive nutritional strategies, capable of responding to the specific needs of each patient in the different stages of recovery « , continues Ileana Terruzziprofessor associated in the science of the food of the University of Milan and author of the study.
A custom -cut dress
There is no, therefore a single rehabilitation path, but the management of the disease must be like « A custom -cut dress », or constantly adapted to individual parameters. «A dynamic approach is essential that is based on advanced body composition markers e hydration For nutritional rehabilitation – adds Terruzzi -. An accurate and continuous evaluation of these parameters allows personalized interventions and a more balanced recovery from malnutrition consequent to anorexia nervosa. The data show that the monitoring of lean mass, body cell mass and hydration levels is an essential indicator to guide nutritional therapy, overcoming the traditional approach based exclusively on weight recovery. This study represents a step forward in understanding the nutritional needs of patients, providing a more effective and tailor -made treatment model ».
Three million Italians
Anorexia Nervosa is one of the most common nutrition and nutrition disorders: DNA): It affects 31% of patients with DNAWhile there bulimia it concerns 32% cases, the disorder from binge-eating (also known as uncontrolled eating disorder) 18% and The Ednos (the abbreviation that stands for eating disorders not otherwise specified, including the chronic diet and the Ortoressia) concern 19%. According to the latest data of the Ministry of Health for 2024, 3,760,560 Italians (30% under 14) suffer from a DNA And last year there have been more than 3 thousand related deaths.
