Supervised Exercise in Anorexia Nervosa Treatment: Directions for Research and Recovery
Abstract
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is a pervasive mental disorder, one that not only threatens a patient’s mental health, but also poses a serious, sometimes life-threatening, risk to the individual’s physical health. Despite advances in treatment, developments are still necessary to raise recovery rates and lower the risk of relapse. The present review examines some of the obstacles that may inhibit full recovery, the role that supervised exercise (SE) may play as an adjunctive treatment, and its contribution to the relationship between body and mind. Suggestions for future research on the incorporation of SE into treatment as a mode of facilitating a full recovery, with a consideration of potential risks to patients, are discussed.
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