| Nowadays a completely effective treatment program | | | | having an infant with low birth weight or birth defects if |
| for anorexia nervosa not exist and many patients | | | | a woman with anorexia becomes pregnant before |
| never achieve a normal weight. Perfectionism and a | | | | regaining normal weight. Also there is a higher risk for |
| drive for thinness, which are a risk for recurrence of | | | | post partum depression. Lower chances for success |
| the eating disorder, are present to many people with | | | | are present to women with anorexia who seek fertility |
| anorexia. One study shown that recovery took | | | | treatments. |
| between four and nearly seven years. | | | | A common result of low estrogen levels in women |
| The death rates ranging from 4% to 25% have been | | | | with anorexia is loss of bone minerals (osteopenia) and |
| reported to the anorexic patients. The risk for early | | | | loss of bone density (osteoporosis). In such women |
| death is higher in the people with the following | | | | bone loss may be worsened by low calcium levels |
| conditions or characteristics: being younger, having | | | | and by higher levels of stress hormones. During their |
| bulimia anorexia, being severely low in weight at the | | | | critical growing period up to two-thirds of children and |
| time of treatment, being sick for more than six years, | | | | adolescent girls with anorexia fail to develop strong |
| having been previously obese,personality disorders, a | | | | bones. An even higher risk for bone loss is present to |
| dysfunctional marriage and being male. | | | | women with anorexia. Unfortunately weight gain does |
| In anorexia suicide is often present. From this point of | | | | not restore bone. If the eating disorder persists a long |
| view studies shown that suicide rates occurred in 1.4% | | | | period the bone loss will be permanent. |
| of women with anorexia. At people with severe | | | | The brain and other parts of the body can be |
| anorexia the most common medical cause of death is | | | | affected by nerve damages that occur to people with |
| heart disease. The following effects of anorexia on | | | | severe anorexia. The following nerve-related conditions |
| the heart are: dangerous heart rhythms, including slow | | | | are: seizures, disordered thinking and numbness or odd |
| rhythms known as bradycardia which can be present | | | | nerve sensations in the hands or feet (a condition |
| even in teenagers with anorexia, blood flow is reduced, | | | | called peripheral neuropathy). During anorexic states |
| blood pressure may drop, heart muscles starve, losing | | | | brains scans indicate that parts of the brain undergo |
| size and cholesterol levels tend to rise. | | | | structural changes and abnormal activity. After weight |
| Abnormalities in the balance of minerals, like potassium, | | | | gain some of these changes return to normal, but |
| calcium, magnesium, and phosphate, which are | | | | some damage may be permanent. The extent of the |
| normally dissolved in the body's fluid can lead to the | | | | neurologic problems is unclear. |
| heart problems. Electrolyte imbalance is produced by | | | | A common result of anorexia and starvation is anemia. |
| the reduction of fluid and mineral levels which occur in | | | | Pernicious anemia is a serious blood problem and it is |
| anorexia due to dehydration and starvation. Electric | | | | caused by severely low levels of vitamin B12. |
| currents necessary for a normal heart beat are | | | | Pancytopenia is a life-threatening condition which occur |
| maintained by electrolytes of calcium and potassium. | | | | if anorexia becomes extreme and the bone marrow |
| When anorexia is compounded by bulimia and the use | | | | dramatically reduces its production of blood cells. Other |
| of ipecac, a drug that causes vomiting heart problems | | | | very common problems in people with anorexia are |
| are a risk. | | | | bloating and constipation. The organs simply fail in very |
| In anorexia appear hormonal effects that can have | | | | late anorexia. In this case levels of liver enzymes, |
| severe health consequences: decrease of | | | | which require immediate administration of calories is |
| reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones, growth | | | | the main signal. |
| hormones and increase of stress hormones. | | | | In young people with type 1 diabetes eating disorders |
| Long-term, irregular or absent menstruation | | | | are very serious. More dangerous in this group of |
| (amenorrhea) is the result of many of these hormonal | | | | patients are the complications of anorexia that affect |
| abnormalities in women. These can appear early in | | | | all patients. A danger in anyone with anorexia is |
| anorexia and over time causes infertility and bone loss. | | | | hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, but it is a dangerous |
| To cause amenorrhea is not sufficient only low weight. | | | | risk in those with diabetes. Retinopathy, damage to the |
| A stronger role in hormonal disturbance is plaid by | | | | retina in the eye, which can lead to blindness is present |
| extreme fasting and purging behaviors. | | | | to 85% of young women with diabetes and eating |
| Estrogen levels are usually restored and periods | | | | disorders. Some studies shown that between 12% and |
| resume after treatment and weight increase. Normal | | | | 18% of people who are anorexic also abuse alcohol or |
| menstruation never returns in 25% of such patients in | | | | drugs. |
| severe anorexia even after treatment. There is a | | | | Nowadays many researchers are working to find |
| higher risk for miscarriage, cesarean section, and for | | | | better methods for helping people with anorexia. |