Can Anorexia Stunt Growth? Anorexia Nervosa and Stunted Growth Concerns

The body relies on good nutrition to help people reach their full potential. This is especially important during adolescence, when the body experiences heavy growth spurts.

But if someone develops an eating disorder during this critical time, they may fail to achieve optimal adult height or experience other issues related to stunted growth.

Sadly, once these inches are missed, it may not be possible to make them up, and those with untreated eating disorders risk losing even more height during their lifetime. 

Working on recovery and improving nutrition may help stimulate a certain amount of catch-up growth or prevent future growth-related issues.

Why Does Anorexia Stunt Growth?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder that involves placing a strict limitation on food, drink, and other sustenance put in the body. It often leads to malnutrition, and, in severe cases, the prolonged lack of nutrients can bring the body to a point of life-threatening starvation. 

Nutritional deficiencies are complex and can have a number of adverse effects, including stunted growth. In people with AN, this can be related to changes in bone marrow that negatively impact development.⁷ Other studies have shown that anorexia nervosa affects the levels of growth hormones that are produced, which can also cause issues.⁸

And other, broader factors can also play a role.

Time of Onset

AN also most commonly first develops during adolescence.¹ Many factors can—and do—contribute to the onset of anorexia nervosa, including psychosocial and developmental factors that are common to this period of life, such as exposure to trauma or bullying.¹⁰

From a biological perspective, it’s thought that the many hormonal changes kicked off by puberty can trigger specific genes that make someone more susceptible to developing an eating disorder.²

And while anorexia nervosa impacts people of all ages, the issue of stunted growth is particularly pronounced in people who develop AN during childhood and adolescence. Several key changes crucial to growth occur during this stage, and they may be particularly affected by malnutrition.

Bone Health Issues

Malnutrition and low body weight can impact bone health, which can lead to stunted growth, especially during early onset anorexia nervosa.

During adolescence, the growth plates are only “open” for a certain amount of time, with changing hormone levels working to start closing them, which ultimately slows or ends growth throughout puberty and young adulthood. 

If the body starts experiencing the effects of anorexia before those plates are closed, someone can miss out on all their potential height. Malnutrition can make it difficult for the body to produce everything it needs to grow, and the plates can close before someone fills them out.²

The Impact of Gender

Biological gender can also play a role in how AN impacts overall growth.

Those born in male bodies generally have a longer physical growth period than those born in female bodies, with some having as many as two more years with open growth plates.³ This means more of a biological male’s potential growth may be negatively impacted by the changes brought on by anorexia nervosa. 

For many biological females, growth may be nearly completed at the time of AN onset. But males may arrive at AN onset with more potential growth to lose out on.

Can People With Anorexia Nervosa Regain Height After Treatment?

While early and intensive intervention aiming at nutritional restoration is crucial for many aspects of mental and physical recovery from anorexia nervosa, it’s unfortunately not likely to restart or restore the physical growth affected by the condition.

A recent study confirmed this limitation. Researchers followed a group of teenage girls who all struggled with AN and measured their heights at admission, during hospitalization, and later, as adults. Their findings included:⁴

• Subtle early stunting. The girls weren’t as tall as expected when treatment started, but the results weren’t dramatic. 
• Worsening with time. As the girls grew, it became clear that many wouldn’t reach the national average height for females. 
• A lack of treatment options. While many of the issues associated with AN receded after the girls went through treatment, options for helping them achieve full adult height were limited. Still, restored nutrition was found to stimulate catch-up growth, sometimes allowing patients to reach full adult height.

It may be possible for someone with AN to continue growing if the condition is recognized and properly treated early on. However, unfortunately, many people don’t receive a diagnosis or seek help until after their growth plates have already begun to close. 

Long-Term Effects of Anorexia Nervosa on Physical Growth

People who struggle with anorexia nervosa can build healthier and stronger bodies with the help of treatment. However, if the condition persists, the problems associated with physical growth may worsen over time.

Restricted eating deprives cells of the essential nutrients they need to function properly. It can also deplete the body’s reserve of healthy cells, which are necessary for replacing those that break down or are otherwise filtered out.

Long-term anorexia nervosa can also lead to low bone mineral density and osteoporosis, which can cause physical shrinking, along with other potential symptoms, such as susceptibility to injury.⁹

People may develop weakened and thin bones within as little as a year after developing anorexia nervosa.⁵ And many don’t realize they’re experiencing the issue until the shrinking has already begun.⁶

Finding Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa

Early intervention and treatment for AN and other chronic diseases are crucial for preventing a range of health consequences, including stunted growth. If you or a loved one is struggling with aspects of this dangerous disorder, it’s time to seek out help.

You may want to start by talking to a medical professional. Primary care doctors and mental health specialists are typically good sources of information and advice, and may be able to direct you to a helpful program. 

Treatment may include medical interventions such as medication, nutritional supplements, and diagnostic testing. And equally as important as addressing physical concerns is working through the mental health aspects that underpin so many eating disorders. 

It may seem overwhelming to take in, deal with, or get through. However, addressing the issues associated with AN can lead to a healthier, happier future, and seeking help is always possible.