Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental disorder most prevalent among adolescent females, with rising cases in younger and more culturally diverse populations. Unhealthy activity patterns are common and have been linked to increased relapse rates; however, data on objectively measured physical activity levels (PALs) in this population is scarce. This study aimed to examine PALs and sedentary time (ST) in patients with AN. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, 16 studies met inclusion criteria (PICO strategy). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses by age and treatment phase were performed. RESULTS: Patients' mean age ranged from 12.6 to 36.2 years. Pooled mean ST was high (617.49 min/day). Light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were higher in adult studies, while vigorous physical activity (VPA) was higher in adolescents. Steps were reported only in adult samples. CONCLUSION: This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis assessing objectively measured PALs in AN patients. Findings reveal different PALs patterns by age-group, and insufficient data by treatment stage. These results identified a critical research gap essential for future development of targeted interventions and informed strategies to support recovery.