Measurement of daily activity in restrictive type anorexia nervosa.

Objective: The assessment of daily activity in patients with restrictive type anorexia nervosa is limited by an absence of accurate and precise technology. We wanted to test a daily activity detecting device named, the physical activity monitoring system (PAMS).

Method: Women participants with restrictive type anorexia nervosa (n = 8, 36 +/- 11 years, 17 +/- 2 kg/m(2)) and healthy women participants (n = 8, 30 +/- 11 years, 27 +/- 7 kg/m(2)) were asked to lie, sit, and stand motionless, and walk at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mph while wearing PAMS.

Results: For all restrictive type anorexia nervosa and healthy participants, body posture was correctly detected for all measurements (300/300). There was excellent correlation of an individual's body acceleration with walking velocity and walking energy expenditure (r(2) > .99).

Conclusion: The PAMS technology could serve as a tool for lending insight into the pathophysiology of restrictive type anorexia nervosa; and potentially measuring compliance with activity recommendations for medical professionals treating individuals with restrictive type anorexia nervosa.