Anorexia nervosa is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders that affects
women far more than it does men. According to the American Psychiatric Association, the diagnostic features of anorexia nervosa include (1) a re-
fusal to maintain normal body weight, (2) fear and an irrational preoccupa-
tion with weight gain, body size, and image, despite being underweight, and
(3) among females, a disturbance in the menstrual cycle resulting in amenor-
rhea.

Though it may be long and arduous, many suffering from this disease have found relief by committing to potentially life-long treatment and counseling. The good news it that a noted study conducted by researchers at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, found that adding massage to their treatment had a positive impact on their health.

In the study, nineteen women receiving inpatient or outpatient standard care treatment for anorexia nervosa. A random group of the nineteen received 30 minute Swedish massage therapy twice a week in addition to their standard treatment for five weeks.

After the five-week treatment period, the massage-therapy group had lower scores on the Eating Disorder Inventory, compared to the standard-treatment group. Higher scores suggest more symptoms associated with the eating disorder. Though these results may not seem like much, they’re very promising for those suffering from anorexia because it can mean more alternatives and natural resources that they can rely on to improve their health outside of a treatment facility.

The details of the study can be found at Massage Magazine.


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