Compensatory growth (organism)

[1] It is possible for high compensatory growth rates to result in overcompensation, where the organism exceeds normal weight and often has excessive fat deposition.

[9] Compensatory growth has been observed in a number of organisms including humans,[3][4][5][6][7][8] other species of mammals,[10] birds,[10] reptiles,[11] fish,[12][13][14] plants (especially grasses and young tree seedlings and saplings),[15] fungi,[16] microbes,[17] pigs,[18] and damselflies.

Then, during the realimentation (re-feeding) phase, an increase in feeding enables more dietary protein and energy to be contributed for tissue growth instead of basal metabolism.

[25] When this restriction is severe, amino acids are released from muscle cells and catabolic hormones circulate to initiate gluconeogenesis processes.

[14] During compensation, animals may experience changes in food intake, body composition (increased fat and lessened muscle), metabolism, and the endocrine system.

[14] Anorexia nervosa can have serious implications if its duration and severity are significant and if onset occurs before the completion of growth, pubertal maturation or prior to attaining peak bone mass.

[27] Both height gain and pubertal development are dependent on the release of growth hormone and gonadotrophins (LH and FSH) from the pituitary gland.

[27] In some cases, especially where onset is pre-pubertal, physical consequences such as stunted growth and pubertal delay are usually fully reversible.

[3] Height potential is normally preserved if the duration and severity of anorexia nervosa are not significant and/or if the illness is accompanied with delayed bone age (especially prior to a bone age of approximately 15 years), as hypogonadism may negate the deleterious effects of undernutrition on stature by allowing for a longer duration of growth compared to controls.