What to do if you have an eating disorder?

The National Eating Disorders Association estimates that about 10 million American men and 20 million American women will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in his or her lifetimes. Though considered to be serious physical and mental illnesses, eating disorders are, in fact, treatable. While specialists remain unsure what exactly causes eating disorders, they largely speculate that a variety of sociocultural, biological, and psychological factors may contribute to the likelihood that an individual develops one. In this blog, we will help answer the question of what to do if you have an eating disorder.

What Side Effects Could Come With An Eating Disorder?

Eating Disorders could have a myriad of side effects on the gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems; they can also affect people on a neurological level.

Some gastrointestinal side effects may include:

Esophageal or stomach ruptures, which may be life-threatening
Constipation
Gastroparesis, or slowed digestion
The swelling of salivary glands in front of the ears and under the jaw
Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas
Intestinal perforation
Intestinal obstruction
Infections such as toxocariasis and toxoplasmosis

Cardiovascular side effects could include:

A reduced resting metabolic rate
Electrolyte imbalances, which could lead to an irregular heartbeat or even potentially heart failure and death
A dip in blood pressure and one’s pulse; this could lead to an increased risk of heart failure

Side effects related to the endocrine system may include:

Irregular or halted menstruation from lowered sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone)
A dip in thyroid hormones
Bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis) from decreased sex hormones; this could lead to an increased risk of fracture
High cholesterol, which may not be indicative of the need to restrict lipids, dietary fats, and the like
A dip in core body temperature that could even lead to hypothermia
Type 2 diabetes due to insulin resistance
Lowered resting metabolic rate

Neurological side effects could include:

Difficulties falling or remaining asleep
Muscle cramps or even seizures from severe dehydration of electrolyte imbalances
Dizziness or fainting, particular when someone stands up
Sleep apnea (a disorder in which a person frequently ceases to breathe while he or she is asleep)
Obsession over food
Difficulty concentrating
Tingling and/or numbness in hands, feet, and other extremities

Other Health Consequences of an Eating Disorder

Other potential health-related side effects of eating disorders may include:

Lowered white blood cell count from malnutrition; white blood cells are responsible for fighting infection in the body
Kidney failure from prolonged and severe dehydration
Anemia from individuals not receiving enough iron; symptoms could include weakness, shortness of breath, and fatigue
The growth of lanugo, or fine, downy hair; a body attempting to conserve warmth during starvation periods may grow this.
Dry skin
Brittle hair
Hair loss