Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent restriction of food intake, fear of gaining weight and distorted body image, often leading to significantly low body weight. Relapse rates for people treated for the disorder are alarmingly high, at up to 50% within one year of the person restoring body weight. The disorder has one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric disorder, with suicide being the leading cause of death.

Although restoring body weight is a central goal of treatment, many patients continue to struggle after reaching a healthy weight. However, the mechanisms underlying the disorder are not well understood, and there is a lack of objective biomarkers to help doctors track how a patient responds to treatment.