14 Consequences Of Anorexia On A Physical And Psychological Level
What are the long-term effects of anorexia? Why should anorexia be treated as soon as possible? Discover all the consequences that anorexia has for our health.
The anorexy It is an eating disorder that involves a great loss of weight that is caused by the patient himself and leads him to a state of starvation that can cause many physical and health problems. This disease is characterized by the fear of gaining weight, which causes people who suffer from it to see themselves as heavier than they really are, which causes a psychological and physical disorder because they stop consuming the necessary foods to be able to. achieve your goal of losing weight. Beyond the effects that this disorder can have, there are many other consequences of anorexia that are unknown to most.
The anorexy It is a disorder that can be fatal. Therefore, it is important to detect it in time to be able to stop it in time. Between the most common symptoms of anorexia we find the following:
Refusal to maintain weight above the minimum suitable for his age and size.
Fear of gaining weight or to be obese even when the weight is below the recommended minimum.
Distorted perception of the body , both in weight and proportions. In the case of women, absence of at least three menstrual cycles. In men, constipation or abdominal pain may appear.
Excessive concern about calories what the food has and how it has been prepared.
Constant cold feeling
Use of various tricks to avoid food (“I ate out”, “I met to eat later”, “I have a stomachache today”).
Hyperactivity
States like depression, irritability or sudden changes in personality.
If you think that someone around you may suffer from anorexia, it is important to go to a mental health professional as soon as possible to treat it immediately.
When a person suffers from anorexia and its symptoms Not only do they end up diminishing the general feeling of well-being but they can also lead to life-threatening complications. In fact, the consequences of anorexia are not only physical, but this disorder has effects both psychologically and on social relationships. The main effects of anorexia are the following:
Effects of anorexia on a physical level
Headache: Anorexia usually involves episodes of stress as well as many medical complications that can lead the person who suffers from it to end up experiencing constant headaches.
Heart damage: Another of the effects of anorexia In our body, the heart accelerates its beat, something that produces great stress for this organ. In addition, this can also cause poor circulation and a feeling of cold all the time.
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance: Although people with anorexia can drink large amounts of water to compensate for the pain caused by hunger, the reality is that the lack of a balanced diet can alter hydration and the balance of electrolytes in the body. In fact, the consequences of anorexia At this level it can lead to experiencing excessive thirst, headaches, arrhythmias, dizziness, fainting and constantly having a feeling of confusion.
Vitamin and mineral deficiency: Our body requires a regular supply of a wide variety of vitamins and other nutrients to function properly. Some people who suffer from anorexia may try to maintain health without eating enough through different vitamin supplements, but these types of behaviors will end them. health effects of vitamin and mineral deficiency. People often end up losing their bone mass and have an increased risk of fractures as a result of osteoporosis.
Low blood pressure: Another of the consequences of malnutrition Due to anorexia, blood pressure ends up reaching very dangerous levels. This results in the following physical effects: lightheadedness, blurred vision, fatigue, nausea, fainting, among others.
Hormonal imbalance: Another of the effects of anorexia They are a consequence of the hormonal imbalances that this disorder causes. Without the supply of different nutrients, the glands that produce essential hormones stop working, wreaking havoc on both our bodily processes and our mental state. These hormonal changes usually cause a wide range of physical risks such as delayed growth, changes in menstruation, thyroid problems and much more.
Lanugo: In more severe cases of anorexia, people may develop a thin, soft coat of hair called lanugo. This happens as a mechanism that our body has to try to maintain the temperature required for its proper functioning.
Deterioration of muscle mass: The effects of anorexia They can end up with a deterioration of our muscle tissue. The reason for this is that as the person who suffers from this disorder consumes fewer and fewer calories, our body does not obtain the energy necessary to maintain muscle mass, which implies that this tissue is lost. Muscle wasting can cause people to feel extremely fatigued.
Kidney damage: One of the consequences of anorexia The most common is kidney failure. Although kidney failure is a serious problem, the reality is that this condition can be corrected if the person undergoes a restorative eating regimen designed by a nutritionist. Therefore, the attention of both psychologists and other health professionals can help reverse these types of effects. If this is not treated, dialysis or even a transplant may be necessary.
Loss of bone density: Osteoporosis that appears at an early age is related to a lack of calcium and iron intake. These effects of anorexia They make people who suffer from it considerably increase the risk of suffering from fractures, as well as having many spinal problems and experiencing body weakness.
Distorted self-image and body dysmorphia: People with anorexia often suffer from a distortion of their self-image, focused mainly on the feeling that the person is overweight (although in reality the opposite is true). The so-called body dysmorphia is a very persistent feeling of being dissatisfied with one’s body, which can lead a person to drastic measures such as self-starvation to try to correct the ‘problem’.
Emotional dysregulation: The anorexia nervosa and its consequences They can also cause people to suffer from constant changes in their emotions. Additionally, due to the nutritional and hormonal imbalances caused by anorexia, people can have emotional outbursts that are very difficult to control.
Depression and anxiety: The effects of anorexia They can harm many aspects of the lives of those who suffer from it. So much so that the incidence rate of depression and anxiety in people with this disorder is much higher. In fact, suffering from these disorders can act as a trigger for disordered eating behaviors.
Guilt, shame and self-isolation : People who suffer from anorexia often feel guilty because they have this disorder. In many cases, these feelings end up leading the person to isolate themselves from others. Thus, without close interactions, people suffering from anorexia will be more affected by their own distorted perceptions, which will increase thoughts around anorexia.
There are many effects of anorexia both for our body and for our mind. But we must remember that anorexia is a disorder that can have fatal consequences. Therefore, detecting and addressing it in time, together with a mental health specialist, should be our priority in these cases.
