WEIGHT PROBLEMS: THE MEDICAL DANGERS OF EATING DISORDERS

Posted: April 23rd, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: Weight Loss | No Comments »

Your body needs food to function. Poor eating damages the body in a host of different ways and some of these medical complications can be fatal.

For example, gastric dilatation, in which the stomach expands and may rupture, can occur during a binge. Pancreatitis-inflammation of the pancreas-may also develop.

Starvation can lead to abnormal growth of fibrous tissue in the kidneys (interstitial fibrosis). Another risk is diabetes insipidus, which robs the body of its ability to conserve fluids.

Slowed heart rate (bradycardia) is a common effect of starvation. Potentially fatal heart arrhythmias may also develop, usually due to electrolyte imbalance, but sometimes occurring even when electrolytes are normal. Fatal cardiac failure can occur if weight is regained too rapidly.

Starving reduces the ability of bone marrow to produce blood cells. As a result, the white blood cell count may drop. (Surprisingly, this may not always lead to increased infections.) It also disturbs the blood’s ability to form clots, which can lead to bleeding problems.

As the starving body “turns down the thermostat” to conserve energy, the thyroid reduces its functions. Other endocrine abnormalities also develop. Another major problem is osteoporosis, a decrease in bone mass that can lead to fractures of the ribs or spinal vertebrae.

These potentially fatal medical consequences may frighten you. However, sometimes it takes a good scare to break through the wall of denial that accompanies these illnesses.

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