Eating disorders can disrupt the normal functioning of the body and cause medical complications. There are a number of different sorts of eating disorders, some of which you can read about in an earlier post (click here).

People who use laxatives to stimulate bowel movements or frequently vomit as a way of purging are at risk of developing heart problems and other complications.

People who have a binge eating disorder are usually overweight. Obesity leads to its own medical complications such as hypertension, unhealthy cholesterol levels, diabetes, and susceptibility to a number of diseases and cancers. Individuals suffering from this disorder often present with depression.

People starving themselves as a result of anorexia nervosa can damage their internal organs. The human body tries to protect itself from starvation by dropping certain functions: The menstrual cycle stops; breathing rate, pulse rate, and blood pressure all drop; thyroid function slows down. A starving persons skin will dry up and become covered in a soft hair called lanugo. They may feel thirsty all the time and need urinate frequently. This dehydration contributes to constipation. Because the starving person has lost body fat he/she might not be able to regulate body temperature effectively and will especially struggle in the cold.

Anorexia nervosa is also associated with a number of other symptoms such as mild anaemia, dizziness, swollen joints, and a loss of muscle mass. Their bones may decalcify which leaves them brittle and easily broken. People suffering from anorexia nervosa may also have irregular hearth rhythms or even have heart failure. Structural changes in the brain can lead to personality changes in people suffering from anorexia nervosa.

People who have an eating disorder are at a much greater risk of having another psychiatric disorder as well. There are strong links between eating disorders and depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Suicidal ideation (thoughts about suicide) is also more commonly found in people with an eating disorder than in the general population.

Anorexia nervosa is sometimes accompanied by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) which is a mental illness characterised by intrusive thoughts that lead the person to compulsively repeat behaviours - often with the belief that this will stave off disaster. People with anorexia usually have a compliant personality but may show incidents of rage and hostility. They will often withdraw from social situations as a result of the extreme shame they feel about themselves.

Patients who present for treatment from Bulimia Nervosa are often found to have severely damaged their bodies. Problems occur in the stomach, heart, and throat. Many such patients show signs of malnutrition as a result of purging important nutrients and minerals. Bulimics will sometimes have "chipmunk cheeks" as a result of glandular swelling near their cheeks in response to the acid in their vomit. The mentrual period of people suffering from bulimia nervosa may also be disrupted and they will typically lose their sexual appetite.

Bulimia nervosa is sometimes accompanied by addictions to substances or behaviours. Drug or alcohol abuse is fairly common in people with this disorder. As is the case with anorexia nervosa people with this illness are at a higher risk of presenting with other psychiatric problems. Because of their poor impulse control and these psychiatric complications they are at higher risk of suicide than the general population.

It is clear that eating disorders present a number of medical problems. A comprehensive eating disorder treatment program will address the individual on each of the levels that are affected by this illness. Co-occurring disorders should be treated integratively in order to improve treatment outcomes. Early identification and treatment of an eating disorder may help to prevent serious medical problems from developing. If you want to learn more about how eating disorders develop please refer to this earlier post by clicking here.