Medical and Psychological Consequences of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders can have dangerous medical and psychological consequences, which without intervention can result in serious illness or death. Medical complications can occur from dietary restriction with rapid weight loss, excessive exercise, self-induced vomiting and excessive laxative use and can occur in any body size. If you engage in these behaviours, it is important to see your GP for regular medical monitoring, including postural observations and blood tests, and if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath in the absence of exertion - DO NOT IGNORE IT – go to see your GP or present to your local Emergency Department for a medical assessment

People can recover from eating disorders with appropriate medical and psychological treatment, and the earlier an intervention occurs, the better the outcomes for individuals!

More detail into the risks associated with eating disorder behaviours are listed below. If you are experiencing these seek advice from your GP:

Restrictive eating can affect the cardiovascular system, including low heart rate, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and even heart failure. Gastrointestinal problems including constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating are common and endocrine disruptions can result loss of periods in females and infertility, osteoporosis, and low glucose levels. Some other complications of dietary restriction include:

• cognitive impairment, including poor concentration/memory loss

• renal/kidney failure

• electrolyte imbalances and anaemia

• muscle wasting, weakness, and increased fracture risk

Self-induced Vomiting, often engaged in to compensate for a binge is dangerous, it can cause cardiac abnormalities which can be fatal. Regular monitoring of electrolytes, in particular potassium, via a blood test is important if you are engaging in excessive vomiting, your GP will alert you to attend the Emergency Department if this becomes critically low. Excessive vomiting can also cause heartburn, reflux and oesophageal tears.

Excessive use of laxatives and diuretics is serious and will also cause electrolyte disturbance, dehydration, and oedema. Prolonged use can cause irreversible colon damage and reduced liver-function. Heavy use of laxative, diuretic and diet pills results in dependence as a person’s tolerance threshold adjusts over time.

Exercising excessively can have serious health implications, including muscle strain, stress fractures, bones breaking, loss of menstruation and general weakness.

The Psychological effects of eating disorders include anxiety, distress, sleep disturbances, depression, and thoughts of self-harm and suicide. If you are having thoughts of wanting to harm yourself or you have noticed these thoughts are becoming more pervasive, as for physical complications, DO NOT IGNORE THESE symptoms – go to see your GP, psychologist or to your local Emergency Department for a mental health assessment. Developing a safety plan with your GP/therapist/family or other support system that identifies your ‘at risk’ times and strategies to implement during these times, is another way of monitoring your wellbeing to keep you safe.