Published on October 16, Published on EatingDisorderHope. The information contained on or provided through this service is intended for general consumer understanding and education and not as a substitute for medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information provided on the website is presented as is without any warranty of any kind, and expressly excludes any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
How Anorexia Affects the Body Anorexia affects all parts of the body. Bone loss can begin within six months of anorexia developing [1]. Anorexia and Long-Term Effects Anorexia is an illness where the person is obsessed with extreme thinness, significant fear of gaining weight or being fat, and even with low body weight, they have a distorted view of their body weight and shape.
Common Occurrences One of the most common effects is Bradycardia which is where the heart beats at 60 per minute, where an average beat per minute is [4]. What Does All of This Mean? References: [1] Shaw, G. Anorexia: The Body Neglected. Do you have a loved one battling an eating disorder and would like a better understanding of this disease? Our newsletter offers current eating disorder recovery resources and information. Join Today! All Rights Reserved. Some of these abnormalities may discontinue with weight restoration, but some of damage to the brain can be permanent.
Due to starvation, one of the most common conditions related to anorexia is anemia. A major blood problem is created by dangerously low levels of vitamin B When anorexia becomes extreme, the bone marrow dramatically drops the production of blood cells. The condition is known as Pancytopenia, and it too, can be life threatening.
Anorexia puts incredible stress on the digestive system. Stomach bloating and constipation are very common among people with anorexia. Because anorexia often pairs with bulimic behaviors, the purging, or vomiting this involves can expose the digestive system to excess stomach acid and lead to conditions such as reflux esophagitis.
The first major indications of organ failure are often high blood levels of liver enzymes. To reverse this requires an immediate intake of calories. The hormonal changes that come with anorexia can have severe health consequences. For women, reproductive hormone levels are significantly lower. Stress hormones may increase, but thyroid levels usually drop. After treatment and weight restoration, estrogen levels may return to normal and period cycles can resume. However, in some extreme cases, even after treatment, normal menstruation cycles never return.
If a woman with anorexia becomes pregnant before weight restoration, she has a higher risk for a miscarriage, a cesarean section delivery, and a baby with a low birth weight or birth defects. Women with anorexia also have greater odds of experiencing postpartum depression. Because of the impact on the reproductive system, women with anorexia that attempt fertility treatments generally have lower chances for success. Diabulimia , a disorder in which clients deliberately forgo or reduce their daily doses of insulin to reduce their weight, is particularly dangerous.
Very high blood sugar levels may cause diabetic ketoacidosis, a condition that causes keytones, or acidic chemicals, to accumulate in the body. This condition can produce comas or death. The good news, is that some of these physical complications can be reversed if the person with anorexia returns to a normal weight. Peebles explains. Also, the low reward value of food can lead them to further decrease their food intake.
Obsessive behavior about food and weight often triggers control-oriented eating habits Engaging in such rituals can ease anxiety, bring comfort and generate a sense of control People with anorexia can view deviation from these rituals as a failure and loss of self-control Anorexia can lead to various eating habits that can bring a sense of control and reduce anxiety often caused by food. In some cases, anorexia can lead to the chronic use of alcohol, certain medications and diet pills.
Alcohol may be used to suppress appetite and cope with anxiety and stress. For some, alcohol abuse might also be followed by drastic reductions in food intake to compensate for the calories consumed through drinking The abuse of other drugs, including amphetamines, caffeine or ephedrine, are common in the restrictive type, as these substances can suppress appetite, increase metabolism and promote rapid weight loss Food restriction and rapid weight loss can affect the brain in ways that may further increase the desire for drugs 53 , Long-term substance abuse combined with reduced food intake can cause malnutrition and trigger other health problems.
Anorexia can lead to the abuse of alcohol and certain drugs to help decrease food intake or calm anxiety and fear towards food. The severity of anorexia depends on the extent to which a person suppresses their weight. One study showed that weight suppression had significant links to weight, body concerns, excessive exercise, food restriction and the use of weight control medication However, weight changes in a person can be difficult to notice and may not be enough to diagnose anorexia.
Therefore, all other signs and symptoms need to be considered to make an accurate determination. In those with more severe anorexia, body organs can be affected and trigger other symptoms, including:. The progression of anorexia can cause many changes and affect virtually all body organs. Symptoms may include fatigue, constipation, feeling cold, brittle hair and dry skin.
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by weight loss, body image distortion and the practice of extreme weight loss methods like food purging and compulsive exercising. If you believe that you or a friend or family member may have anorexia, know that it is possible to recover and help is available. Its current publication date reflects an update, which includes a medical review by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD. Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits, and they are quite common.
This articles describes 6 of the most common…. Eating disorders can happen at any age, but social stigma keeps some older women from seeking help. Doctors and judges walk a fine ethical line when deciding if people with eating disorders should be treated against their wishes.
There comes a point at which starvation can no longer be ignored. This looks different to each person. For some, it might mean being hospitalized for severe malnutrition. For others, it might mean fighting suicidal ideation or other psychological effects that can no longer go unaddressed.
If possible, seek help before it gets to this point. If you find yourself restricting to cope with anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress, or other unwanted feelings, reach out to a loved one or a professional who can get you the support that you need and deserve. She graduated summa cum laude with a B. After obtaining her certification as a life coach, Courtney launched Lionheart Eating Disorder Recovery Coaching in and continues to be a passionate advocate for awareness and recovery.
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.
Published on EatingDisorderHope. The information contained on or provided through this service is intended for general consumer understanding and education and not as a substitute for medical or psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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