Common Questions about Eating Disorders
Craig Johnson, Ph.D.
Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital, Tulsa, OK

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Eating Disorders?
The longer an eating disorder persists, the greater the impairment to the individual's ability to work, play, love and otherwise live normally. The course of an eating disorder is very similar to that of many other psychiatric difficulties, such as drug or alcohol abuse, depression, anxiety or phobia. All these illnesses can dramatically interfere with a person's ability to work or go to school. They ruin relationships and make it very difficult for the person to experience pleasure in life.

In addition to being emotionally devastating, the illnesses can create serious medical problems -- or even death. The death rate for women with eating disorders is about 12 times higher than for other women of similar ages.

Well before death occurs, eating disorders wreak havoc with the body. Adolescence is a time of rapid growth and development. On average, girls gain 40 pounds between the ages of 11 and 14. Also, about 90 percent of adult bone mass, in both males and females, is established during adolescence. Eating disorders can interfere with these important stages in development. Listed below are some of the medical problems that can follow.

Medical consequences of anorexia. An extended period of semi-starvation deprives the body of protein and prevents the normal metabolism of fat. In an effort to conserve energy and protect itself, the body slows down. These changes can stunt growth, interfere with body processes and damage vital organs, as follows:
* The heart muscle changes and its beat becomes irregular. The ultimate result can be heart failure that results in death.
* In girls, menstruation may stop, even before extensive weight loss. This is called amenorrhea.
* Dehydration, kidney stones and kidney failure may develop.
* A fine body hair, called lanugo, develops on the arms and can even cover the face.
* Muscles atrophy or waste away from lack of nutrients, resulting in weakness and lost muscle function.
* Delayed stomach emptying caused by slowed body function results in bowel irritation and constipation.
* Loss of bone calcium can leads to early osteoporosis ("porous bones" that break easily).