Recovery Tools ~ Health
Eating disorders take a toll on a person’s body and overall health. The longer an individual engages in eating disorder behavior, the worse the impact will be. Health and medical consequences vary depending on the disorders. Consider the following:
Anorexia -- the short-term consequences are definite and often visible: extreme weight loss, dry skin and hair loss, unusual hair growth on torso, anemia, loss of menstrual cycle, bluish fingertips, loss of energy and impaired brain function. Notice how often the word "loss" appears. Long-term consequences include brain shrinkage, cardiac abnormalities, osteoporosis, and infertility. The direst consequence is loss of life.
Bulimia – Not unlike anorexia, the early health consequences of this disorder can be seen. Swollen glands in the neck burst blood vessels in the eyes, dehydration and bruised or scraped fingers are among the most noticeable. Long-term consequences include injury to the stomach and esophagus, damage to kidneys and heart, damage to the teeth. If laxatives are abused, irreparable harm can be done to the intestines.
Binge-eating – The short-term consequence of this disorder is weight gain; the long-term is obesity, which offers a whole host of medical complications of its own.
Remember ... Eating disorders do not have to be permanent. By the same token, many of the health and medical complications can resolve once health is restored. Recovery is possible.
Discover more about this important topic by checking out the following articles.
Articles
Medical Complications of Eating Disorders
by Rader Programs
Unfortunately infertility and problems with becoming pregnant are common among individuals suffering from eating disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating. Menstrual abnormalities experienced by women suffering from eating disorders can make pregnancy difficult. Studies have shown that women who are underweight or overweight have significantly lower probability of conceiving than women who are at or near their ideal body weight. One study documented that 17 percent of patients seeking assistance at the infertility clinic being studied had a diagnosable eating disorder...Read More
Infertility
by Rader Programs
Unfortunately infertility and problems with becoming pregnant are common among individuals suffering from eating disorders like Anorexia, Bulimia or Compulsive Overeating. Menstrual abnormalities experienced by women suffering from eating disorders can make pregnancy difficult. Studies have shown that women who are underweight or overweight have significantly lower probability of conceiving than women who are at or near their ideal body weight. One study documented that 17 percent of patients seeking assistance at the infertility clinic being studied had a diagnosable eating disorder.... Read More
Eating Disorders and Heredity
by Jeanne Rust, Ph.D.
One of the questions that seems to arise again and again is, my aunt and my mother had an eating disorder. Is it hereditary?
Am I at risk? The high incidence of eating disorders in families has led researchers to think that there might be a genetic influence in the development of them. Studies have shown that 58% to 76% of the occurrence of anorexia nervosa can be attributed to genetic factors.... Read More
Resources
Health Consequences of Eating Disorders: The National Eating Disorders Association outlines the numerous physical effects of eating disorders(Nationaleatingdisorders.org)
Physical Complications of Eating Disorders: Eating disorders cause a wide variety of complications, some of them life-threatening. The more severe or long lasting the eating disorder, the more likely you are to experience serious complications(Mayoclinic.com).
Gynelogical Impact of Eating Disorders on Adolescents: Read about concerning effects of eating disorders on the reproductive systems of young women(AtHealth.com)