Insulin normalized brain metabolic status on a Model of Anorexia Nervosa in Mice

•Anorexia nervosa is a psycho-socio-biological disease, characterized by self-starvation and distorted perception of body weight. Patients often over-exercise.•Insulin is an anabolic hormone that increases food intake and restores body fat and is present in low levels in anorexia nervosa patients: thus may have therapeutic potential in treating anorexia nervosa.•low dose insulin administration to animal model of anorexia associated with exercise, led to alterations and normalization in brain metabolic status and improved cognition.•Insulin should be further explored as potential novel treatment for anorexia nervosa.