Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41947335›Full record

ReviewThe International journal of eating disorders2026

Moving Beyond BMI: The Need for Biomarkers of Physiological Recovery in Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa.

Blair Uniacke, Joanna Steinglass, Pablo Del Sol Calderon, Alexandra Allam, Janet Schebendach, Madhusmita Misra, Evelyn Attia, B Timothy Walsh

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in The International journal of eating disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Blair UniackeColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8858-3575
Joanna SteinglassColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8434-8212
Pablo Del Sol CalderonColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2757-5862
Alexandra AllamColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8291-6183
Janet SchebendachColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4130-9583
Madhusmita MisraUVA Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9405-2981
Evelyn AttiaColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5602-6491
B Timothy WalshColumbia University, New York City, New York, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8626-5859

Funding

Research Training in Biobehavioral Disturbances of Eating DisordersT32MH096679 · NIMH · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · PI EVELYN ATTIA, B. TIMOTHY WALSH · 2013 to 2026
$2.4M
Fundación Alfonso Martín EscuderoNIMH NIH HHS T32 MH096679
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIn the treatment of individuals with atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN), it is unclear how to determine when sufficient renourishment has been achieved. Reliance on body mass index (BMI) to define acute treatment goals in AN has led to gaps in understanding of the physiology of renourishment. Biological markers that reflect restoration of physical health during acute nutritional rehabilitation are needed to move beyond weight-based metrics.

methodThis Spotlight briefly describes the physiology of starvation in patients with AN and atypical AN and existing strategies for acute nutritional rehabilitation. It identifies gaps in understanding the timeline of physiological normalization during refeeding and proposes research to identify biological markers of restored physical health in individuals with AN and atypical AN.

resultsPhysiological normalization during refeeding is not uniform across biological systems, with cardiovascular parameters correcting more rapidly than gonadal and skeletal systems. In AN, weight restoration improves most physiological indices, but the time course of biological recovery remains unclear. In atypical AN, data characterizing how biological indices of starvation change with refeeding are sparse. DISCUSSION: These observations underscore the utility of moving beyond approaches based exclusively on BMI. We propose the identification of biomarkers of physiological recovery as a necessary foundation for improved guidance regarding the renourishment of patients with AN and atypical AN.

Indexed as

Anorexia NervosaBiomarkersBody Mass IndexHumansLeptinStarvationBiomarkersLeptinanorexia nervosaatypical anorexia nervosabiomarkersestrogenleptin

Identifiers

PMID41947335
PMCPMC13142822

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.