Final answer:
The statement is true; individuals with activity-based anorexia show elevated cortisol levels and increased anxiety, which are consistent with the prolonged exposure to stress hormones often found in association with chronic stress and eating disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that adult onset activity-based anorexia is associated with an increase in cortisol levels and anxiety compared to healthy controls is true. Individuals with anorexia nervosa often face numerous physical and psychological challenges, including increased anxiety disorders and mood disorders. This is consistent with the understanding that chronic stress, which can be found in the presence of eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, results in prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol. Furthermore, it has been identified that individuals with mental health concerns like major depressive disorder (MDD), which can present comorbidly with anorexia, display elevated levels of cortisol. Therefore, environmental, social, and biological factors contribute to the complexity of eating disorders, wherein culture-bound expectations, such as the idealization of thinness, play a significant role in the manifestation and experience of these illnesses.