The pathophysiological basis of bone tissue alterations associated with eating disorders

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and obesity are two major eating disorders present nowadays in Western countries. They are both characterized by striking body composition variations and hormonal alterations, which impact on skeletal metabolism, inducing bone tissue modifications and, thus, often cause an increased risk for fractures. AN and obesity are characterized by a severe reduction in fat mass and a high expression of it, respectively, and in both conditions hormones secreted or modulated by body fat content are important determinants of low bone density, impaired bone structure and reduced bone strength. In addition, in both AN and obesity, increased marrow adiposity, which correlates with low bone density, has been observed. This review will discuss the pathophysiological basis of bone alterations associated with AN and obesity, conditions of extreme energy deficiency and excess, respectively.