10 Serious Consequences of Anorexia on Health

The consequences of anorexia on the physical and emotional health of the person are so severe that it can produce irreversible effects for the subject who suffers and therefore endanger his own life.

The anorexia is not merely a phase or step; is a disorder of eating behavior with a chronic cuso, which requires specialized treatment and follow-up because it is accompanied by a series of additional complications of both co morbidity and mortality.

Consequences of anorexia

The three essential characteristics of anorexia nervosa (AN), according to a classical author (Bruch, 1973), are the distortion in the perception of body image without the person recognizing the progress of their thinness; Distorted perception of proprioceptive stimuli; And a general feeling of personal ineffectiveness.

It is a serious and serious eating disorder with some effects on:

  • Physical Health.
  • Psychological health.
  • Personal relationships.
  • Family relationships.

The sooner you find the person with anorexia a professional, the more likely you will have to recover.

This professional will have to evaluate symptoms, causes and establish a treatment.

Due to the starvation of the body, it lacks the essential nutrients to function normally and the body processes are reduced to conserve energy.

Here are the 10 most serious effects you can have:

1- Psycho social consequences

Anorexia can have an important impact on the quality of life of the person.

The day to day of the person is affected,  as well as their self-esteem , personal relationships, their physical well-being and their day to day.

In addition, this eating disorder can be accompanied by obsessive compulsive symptoms .

2- Weakening of the immune system

The process of quitting affects most organic systems.

Some consequences can be:

  • Low heart rate.
  • Cardiovascular problems.
  • Lack of menstrual periods

3- Diabetes

High blood sugar levels can occur due to low insulin production.

This can be caused by hormone imbalances, hyperglycemia or chronic pancreatitis.

4- Psycho pathological disorders

Along with anorexia can be depression and mood swings due to electrolyte imbalance, vitamin or hormone deficiencies, malnutrition and dehydration.

Depression can be both a consequence and cause of anorexia. In addition, there is a percentage of people born with a genetic predisposition.

Other psychopathological disorders that can occur together with anorexia are:

  • Social phobia.
  • Generalized anxiety.
  • Aggressive behaviors.
  • Alcohol abuse.
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Lack of impulse control.

4- Digestive problems

A deficiency in digestive enzymes can lead to an inability to properly digest food and absorb nutrients.

This can lead to problems of absorption, malnutrition and electrolyte imbalances.

5- Edema

An accumulation of fluid may occur in the inter-cellular tissue.

The most common are in the abdominal area.

6- Electrolytic Imbalances

Electrolyte imbalances are important for the production of the “natural electricity” of the body that ensures dental, bone, joint, muscular, kidney health and proper functioning of nerve impulses.

Electrolytic Imbalances

There may be several factors associated with having a eating disorder that can lead to heart problems: poor circulation, arrhythmia’s, heart attacks, decreased heart rate.

Especially potassium deficiency – an electrolyte imbalance – can cause serious problems with the circulatory system, as can dehydration, malnutrition or hypotension.

7- Infertility

It can be caused by the loss of the menstrual cycle and by hormonal imbalances.

On the other hand, malnutrition and lack of vitamins can make it impossible to carry out a successful pregnancy and therefore cause the child to be born with defects.

8- Osteoporosis

It is produced by the thinning of the bones and a reduction of the bone mass, due to the reduction of the calcium and the proteins.

This increases the risk of bone fractures.

9- Inflammation of the kidneys

Vitamin deficiency, dehydration, or low blood pressure can increase the risk of infection in the kidneys, running the risk of permanent damage and making it more likely to be defective.