What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Eating Disorders?
By:
iVillage Health & Well-Being Staff Writer
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).
Medical consequences of bulimia. People with bulimia are often of normal weight, so do not necessarily suffer the consequences of self- starvation that affect as anorexics. However, the activity of bingeing and purging can severely interfere with the body's function and damage vital organs, as follows:
* Vomiting, laxatives and diuretics flush sodium and potassium from the body, resulting in an electrolyte imbalance. The result may be arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), which can ultimately lead to heart failure and death.
* The stomach acids in vomit, passing through the mouth, can erode tooth enamel, causing cavities, discoloration and eventual tooth loss.
* Self-induced vomiting can irritate or tear the lining of the throat, esophagus and stomach.
* Laxative abuse can create a physical dependence and result in an inability to have normal bowel movements.
* Abuse of emetics to induce vomiting can result in heart failure and death.
Medical consequences of binge eating disorder. Bingeing alone, even without purging, has consequences of its own:
* High blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and elevated triglyceride levels can cause hardening of the arteries, heart disease and heart attacks.
* Eating large quantities of simple carbohydrates -- sweets and junk food -- in a short period of time places stress on the pancreas, which produces insulin to help the body process food. At first this may cause abnormal low blood sugar. Later in life, diabetes can result.
