Eating Disorders: The Medical Reality

by Sarah Ann Henderson
(Houston, Texas, USA)

Eating disorders have very little to do with weight or food. Variations for all who suffer can be anywhere from extremely underweight to extremely overweight to anywhere in between. The outward appearance of anyone with an eating disorder does NOT dictate the amount of physical danger they are in, nor does is determine the emotional conflict they feel inside. A person with an eating disorder may have only a few symptoms or may be on the verge of death. For the most part however, like many mental illnesses, you would not know they were suffering unless they admitted it to you.

Of all the known mental illnesses, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate; about 20%. With treatment, that number drops to 2-3%.

Let’s take a look at the devastating effects that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can have on the body and it’s systems.

Some of the most common medical complications of anorexia and bulimia include: gastric ulcers, gastric esophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, anemia, electrolyte imbalance, orthostatic hypotension, bradycardia (slow heart rate), arrhythmia, heart muscle atrophy, poor circulation, hair loss, fine hair growth (lanugo), callused or bruised knuckles (from the fingers being forced down the throat to induce vomiting), osteopenia, osteoporosis, severe erosion of tooth enamel, muscle weakness, ketoacidosis, amenorrhea, hormonal imbalances, syncope (fainting), glucose disturbances, gum disease, difficulty with concentration, irritability, anxiety, mania, depression, obsessive thinking, insomnia, and mood lability.

Other possible complications include: rhabdomyolysis (muscle wasting), blindness (due to vitamin A deficiency), infertility, suicide attempts, high cholesterol, kidney infection, pancreatitis, brain atrophy, transient paralysis (due to potassium deficiency), low white blood cell count leading to impaired immune system, bone fractures, and gallbladder disease.

The following complications are potentially (or sometimes) fatal: gastric or esophageal rupture, severe rectal bleeding due to laxative abuse, heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, seizures, swelling of the brain due to electrolyte imbalance, aspiration pneumonia from inhaling vomit, liver failure, kidney failure, heart failure, multi-system organ failure, and suicide.

If someone you know is exhibiting any symptoms of an eating disorder it is imperative that they receive help as soon as possible, for both their psychological and physical well-being. Otherwise, they could end up being just another statistic.

Written for a nursing course, 2010.