Long-term Consequences of Anorexia: Exploring Its Potential Impact Over Time
Anorexia nervosa, a serious eating disorder, can have far-reaching effects on an individual's health and well-being. This condition, characterised by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image, can impact various organ systems, mental health, and relationships.
Endocrine System: The disorder disrupts normal hormone regulation, leading to amenorrhea (loss of menstrual periods), infertility, and in men, lowered testosterone levels. Anorexia can also cause endocrine issues such as menstrual cessation, hypothyroidism, low testosterone, low growth hormone, and changes in hormones that regulate appetite and weight[1][5].
Organ Health: Anorexia affects nearly every organ system. Key effects include heart complications such as bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), heart murmurs, and heart failure[1][3][5]. The heart and circulation suffer from slowed or irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, and fluid imbalances[3]. Additionally, anorexia can lead to liver dysfunction, stunted growth, osteoporosis with permanent bone loss, seizures, coma, or death in severe cases[1][3][5].
Digestive System: Gastrointestinal complications reflected in anorexia include constipation, abdominal bloating, and generally slowed digestive motility due to malnutrition and poor intake[1]. This contributes to discomfort and further reduces appetite.
Mental Health: Anorexia is fundamentally a mental health condition involving body image disturbance, denial of low weight, and obsessive behaviors around food. It is associated with anxiety, depression, and elevated stress hormones (e.g., cortisol) that dysregulate the HPA axis and reward pathways in the brain. Emotional eating disorders and maladaptive coping mechanisms often co-occur, linked to early trauma and chronic stress[4][5].
Quality of Life: Chronic anorexia drastically reduces quality of life because of its multifaceted physical complications, mental health disorders, and social isolation. It imposes risk of premature death and permanent physical damage, complicating recovery and daily functioning[1][2][3].
Relationships: While specific relationship effects are not detailed in the search results, anorexia’s psychological and social impact commonly leads to isolation, strains on family and friends, and difficulties in social interactions due to the mental health burden, body image disturbance, and behavioral changes characteristic of the disorder[3][5].
Risk Factors and Treatment: People with anorexia and those recovering from this diagnosis have a higher risk of low energy, concentration issues mimicking attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, insomnia, irritability, and malnourishment leading to nutritional deficiencies such as osteoporosis from calcium and vitamin D deficiency[1][5].
Prompt treatment for anorexia and ongoing support for any complications it causes can reduce the risk of long-term health issues, and it is possible to reverse most long-term consequences of anorexia with time and treatment[1]. People with a history of eating disorders who begin experiencing relapse symptoms need to seek prompt care[2].
The National Alliance for Eating Disorders offers a daytime helpline staffed by licensed therapists and an online search tool for treatment options[2]. Treatment for anorexia often involves support from a team of healthcare specialists, including cardiologists, dietitians, and endocrinologists[2].
[1] National Eating Disorders Association (2021). Anorexia Nervosa. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia-nervosa [2] National Alliance on Mental Illness (2021). Eating Disorders. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Eating-Disorders [3] Mayo Clinic (2021). Anorexia Nervosa. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anorexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369816 [4] American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. [5] American Psychological Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
- The digestive system issues caused by anorexia, such as constipation, can contribute to discomfort and further reduce the affected individual's appetite, potentially exacerbating the condition.
- Anorexia's mental health effects, like anxiety, depression, and body image disturbance, often strain relationships with family, friends, and others due to emotional and social isolation, as well as behavioral changes.
- In addition to the physical health consequences, anorexia can impact an individual's mental health-and-wellness by causing increased levels of stress hormones that dysregulate the HPA axis and reward pathways in the brain.
