THE EFFECTS ANOREXIA HAS ON THE BODY
Why does anorexia affect the body as well as the mind?
Anorexia is a serious mental health illness and has both psychological and physical impacts on the body and on the mind. Anorexic cognitions are a sign of mental torment and can have physical impacts on the body when listened to. Symptoms all stem from physical deterioration, more bluntly referred to as weight loss. These impacts can have both short- and long-term consequences for health, productivity, and relationships. All of which should be amended by physical restoration and adequate medical treatment and care. It's important to recognise and understand that eating disorders can affect every organ in the body. The earlier intervention occurs, the increased likelihood of mental and physical recovery.
Common consequences of eating disorder are...
- Low blood pressure
- Low heart rate
- Vitamin deficiency
- Slowed digestion
- Reduction in production of hormones
- Brittle bones + osteoporosis
- Stunted growth
- Shrinkage of muscles and tissues
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Body dysmorphia
- Dermatological system effects
- Endocrine System Effects
- Nervous System Effects
- Skeletal System Effects
Cardiovascular system
The lack of adequate nutrition and a lower calorie intake means the body needs to break down its own tissues to use as energy. The body relies on food as a source of energy and burns this to allow us to go about our everyday life. Once the body has burnt all food, it will then use the body's reserves which is what makes weight decrease, then it will make use of tissues and muscles which poses a medical risk as it can cause problems with your heart which can be long term. Muscles are some of the first organs to be broken down, and the most important muscle in the body is the heart. Pulse and blood pressure begin to drop as the heart has less fuel and energy to pump blood and has fewer cells to pump with. The risk for heart failure and complications rises as the heart rate and blood pressure sink lower and lower. This as a result effects the bodies metabolic rate which often causes it to slow down as the body attempts to burn energy slower to conserve it. Purging and vomiting can also be a symptom of anorexia, which deplete the body of electrolytes. The electrolyte potassium plays a vital role in helping the heartbeat and the muscles contract, which is depleted because of this behaviour. Other chemicals can become imbalanced and can result in irregular heartbeats, heart failure, and even death. All of which are caused by weight loss, inadequate nutrition, and anorexic behaviours.
Gastrointestinal system
Stomach digestion is known as gastroparesis. Food restriction and anorexia behaviours such as vomiting interfere with normal stomach emptying and the digestion of nutrients which can lead to stomach pains and bloating, nausea, blocked intestines, bacterial infections, blood sugar fluctuations, heightened feelings of fullness after eating and constipation. Constipation could be caused by low food intake which results there not being enough in the intestines for the body to try and eliminate. Long term inadequate nutrition can weaken the muscles of the intestines and leave them without the strength to propel digested food out of the body as waste products. Laxative abuse can damage nerve endings and therefore leave the body dependant on them to ensure bowel movement. Vomiting can wear down the oesophagus and cause if to rapture which is life threatening. When someone is making themselves sick over a long period of time their parotid glands can get swollen. This can also happen when the behaviours stopped. Both malnutrition and purging can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas which causes pain, nausea, and vomiting. Intestinal obstruction, perforation and ingestions can occur such as mechanical bowel problems, intentional obstruction or a blockage which prevents food from passing through, Bezoar which is a mass of indigestible material found trapped in the gastrointestinal tract such as the stomach, the ingestion of non-food item which creates a hole in the wall of the stomach and the bowels and ingestion a such as toxocariasis.
Neurological effects
Even though the brain doesn't weigh much, it consumed one fifth of the body’s food intake. Therefore, restriction of food means that the brain isn't getting the energy that it needs from food. This can lead to obsessing about food and difficulties concentrating. Extreme hunger can cause mental torment and can disturb sleep and other activities. The bodies neurons require a protective layer of lipids to be able to conduct electricity. Inadequate fat inpatient can damage this layer and cause numbness and a tingling sensation in the feet, hands, and other extremities. Neurons use electrolytes to send electrical and chemical signals to the brain and body. Severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle cramps and even seizures. When the brain and blood vassals cannot push enough blood to the brain, it can cause fainting and dizziness, especially from sitting to standing. Alongside this, when an individual is underweighting and sleeping, it will often be disturbed by the body waking itself up to avoid slipping into a hypoglycaemic coma. All of which are consequences of anorexia nervosa.
Endocrine system
The body makes many of its needed hormones with the fat and cholesterol that we eat. Without enough fat and calories on our diet, the sex hormones and thyroid hormones fall and decrease. Lowered sex hormones can cause menstruation to stop or become irregular. Lowered sex hormones can significantly increase bone loss which is known as osteoporosis. This means you’re at much higher risk of broken bones and fractures. Contrary to this, the failure to have periods can reduce in fertility problems in later life. The reduced metabolic rate as result of inadequate nutrition occurs as the bodies way of conserving energy. Without enough energy to fuel the metabolic fire, core body temperature will drop, and hypothermia could develop as well as blue tinged skin due to being cold.
Other health consequences
Low calorie intake and fat consumption can cause dry skin and hair to become brittle and even fall out. To conserve energy and warmth during periods of starvation the body will grow fine body hair which is called lanugo. This will drop off once the body can heat itself because of proper nutrition. Severe and prolonged dehydration can cause kidney failure. Inadequate nutrition can decrease the number of certain vitamins and blood cells which will affect the body's ability to function. It can decrease the level of iron and can develop into anaemia when they are too few red blood cells or too little iron in the diet, this can cause weakness, shortness of breath and fatigue. Malnutrition can also decrease white blood cells which are the bodies blood cell to fight off infection. Therefore, you may be more susceptible to infections and germs.
The long-lasting effects
Eating disorders are no joke and are a deadly mental health illness. Anorexia alone is the highest mortality rate in children. It kills more kids than cancer, let that sink in. This illness is taking lives and won't stop until you get fight it. Short term effects and long-term effects will all affect your life. They will always limit your quality of life. Anorexia will ruin your life. But all physical symptoms and effects can be erased if recovery is entered swiftly. The longer starvation is present, the more damage is being done to your body. Food will save your body, it's what it needs to repair and thrive. You can do this. Don't let your mind bully your body. You need food to live.
Abs “I believe this post was important since anorexia and other eating disorders seem to be glamorised so heavily. Many people see the physical appearance side of anorexia, but there's so so many issues below the surface that remain hidden that many don't realise. Damage being done to the body internally, which sometimes is irreparable. Anorexia is a serious mental health illness and has both psychological and physical impacts on the body and on the mind. Anorexic cognitions are a sign of mental torment and can have physical impacts on the body when listened to. Symptoms all stem from physical deterioration, more bluntly referred to as weight loss. These impacts can have both short- and long-term consequences for health, productivity, and relationships. All of which should be amended by physical restoration and adequate medical treatment and care. Eating disorders are no joke and are a deadly mental health illness. Anorexia alone is the highest mortality rate in children. It kills more kids than cancer, let that sink in. This illness is taking lives and won't stop until you get fight it. Short term effects and long-term effects will all affect your life. They will always limit your quality of life. Anorexia will ruin your life. But all physical symptoms and effects can be erased if recovery is entered swiftly”