Anoremia nervosa exerts its toll on the body and can be fatal. A lack of sufficient nutrition can affect the brain in a number of ways.
Researchers found a decrease in cortical thickness, subcortical volumes and cortical surface area in people with an eating disorder. The brain sort-of gets smaller.
It's the largest study to date to look at the relationship between the eating disorder and gray matter, and it shows how important it is to treat the condition as early as possible.
Esther Walton is a psychologist from the University of Bath in the UK.
Combining thousands of brain scans from people with an eating disorder allowed us to study the brain changes that might describe the disorder.
The reductions in the size and shape of the brain shown here are four times larger than the reductions caused by other psychological conditions.
The team behind the study suggests that the reductions in body mass index are likely to have something to do with it.
The research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy can possibly reverse some of the changes in the brain.
Large reductions in brain structure, which we observed in patients, were less visible in patients already on the path to recovery.
It indicates that the changes might not be permanent. The brain could bounce back with the right treatment.
Scientists don't know what causes an eating disorder, but we know a lot about its effects. It is one of the leading causes of death related to mental health issues.
Scientists will be able to better understand what is causing a reduction in brain volume in people with an eating disorder as more data comes in.
The earlier treatment is better for now. The techniques used here could be used to measure the effectiveness of treatments on the brain.
New brain maps can now be used to evaluate the effects of treatments and interventions.
There is a need for early interventions for people with eating disorders.
The research was published in a mental health journal.
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