Complications of anorexia nervosa
Almost half of people who have anorexia nervosa will eventually develop symptoms (binge-purge behaviors) of another eating disorder called bulimia nervosa.1
Long-term or severe anorexia also can cause serious medical complications, such as:2
- Osteoporosis, which results from a lack of calcium in the diet as well as too much cortisol and too little estrogen in the body. The teenage years are critical bone-building years.
- Joint injuries, from too much exercise.
- Fractures, which are common in female athletes who have an eating disorder and also have osteoporosis and irregular menstrual cycles (known as the female athlete triad).
- Anemia.
- Kidney function problems, often caused by ongoing dehydration or abuse of laxatives.
- Heart problems such as a slow or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and low blood pressure (hypotension).
- Cavities or tooth decay.
If left untreated, many of these conditions can lead to death. Up to 15% of people who have anorexia will eventually die from complications of malnutrition or from suicide.3 However, restoring healthy eating habits and good nutrition can reverse many of the complications of anorexia.4
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis | Last Updated: September 25, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine W. Stewart Agras, MD - Psychiatry | |
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