# A Prospective, Longitudinal Investigation of Physical Activity and Bone Health among Female Adolescents Recovering from Restrictive Eating Disorders

> **NIH HD K23** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2026 · $163,825

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Restrictive eating disorders (EDs) most commonly affect female adolescents and can lead to low bone
mineral density (BMD) and impaired bone microarchitecture. Peak bone accrual occurs during adolescence, and
the presence of a restrictive ED at this time can increase the risk of osteoporosis into adulthood. Weight-bearing
physical activity can promote bone accrual, but the bone health benefits may be reduced with an ED. Physical
activity participation is often restricted during ED treatment due to concerns for compulsive exercise (i.e. rigid
and highly-driven exercise behaviors) and interference with weight restoration. Data is lacking regarding if, when,
and how patients return to physical activity and the associations with compulsive exercise and eating disorder
behaviors during ED recovery. Additionally, the changes in BMD and bone microarchitecture, and the impact of
weight-bearing physical activity on bone health in female adolescents as they recover from a restrictive ED are
unknown. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential to inform the clinical approach to physical activity
integration and optimization of bone health during ED recovery among female adolescents.
 Dr. Aubrey Armento will conduct a prospective longitudinal clinical study of female adolescents admitted
to the Children’s Hospital Colorado Eating Disorder Program (CHCO-EDP) over 1 year of treatment/recovery,
compared to a healthy, physically active control group. The specific aims include: 1) examine physical activity
participation (as measured by a wearable activity monitor) and its association with compulsive exercise and
eating disorder behaviors, and 2) determine changes in BMD and bone microarchitecture and estimated strength
(as measured by high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography; HR-pQCT) and the impact of
weight-bearing physical activity on these bone outcomes. The findings of this study could shift current clinical
paradigms to improve the 

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11281191
- **Project number:** 1K23HD120665-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Aubrey  Armento
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** HD
- **Fiscal year:** 2026
- **Award amount:** $163,825
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2026-05-01T00:00:00 → 2029-11-30T00:00:00

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11281191

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11281191, A Prospective, Longitudinal Investigation of Physical Activity and Bone Health among Female Adolescents Recovering from Restrictive Eating Disorders (1K23HD120665-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-07-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11281191. Licensed CC0.

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