PHYSICAL PROBLEMS/MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS

Anorexia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa
Compulsive Overeating

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation)
• Skin problems
• Dizziness and headaches
• Dehydration
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeats
• Cold hands and feet
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Hair loss
• Stomach pains
• Decreased metabolic rate
• Edema (water retention)
• Lanugo(fine downy hair)
• Loss of bone mass
• Kidney and liver damage
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Osteoporosis
• Insomnia
• Anemias
• Infertility
• Depression
• Cathartic colon(caused from laxative abuse)
• Low potassium (most common cause of nocturnal cardiac arrest)
• Cardiac arrest and death

BULIMIA NERVOSA

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Amenorrhea(loss of menstruation) and irregular menstruation
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Dehydration
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeats
• Depression
• Tears of esophagus
• Hair loss
• Stomach pain and bloating
• Erosion of teeth enamel
• Chronic sore throat
• Kidney and liver damage
• Parotid gland enlargement
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Cathartic colon (caused from laxative abuse)
• Edema (swelling of hands and feet)
• Low blood pressure
• Chest pains
• Development of peptic ulcers and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• Gastric dilation and rupture
• Abrasions on back of hands and knuckles
• Anemias
• Cardiac arrest and death

COMPULSIVE OVEREATING

• Weight gain
• Hypertension or fatigue
• Heart ailments
• Mobility problems
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Sciatica
• Varicose veins
• Hiatal hernia
• Embolism
• Sleep depravation
• Toxemia during pregnancy
• High blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• High Cholesterol levels
• Cardiac arrest and death

   

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Resources:
-Surviving an Eating Disorder: Perspectives and Strategies for Family and Friends by Michelle Siegel, Ph.D., Judith Brisman, Ph.D., and Margot Weinshel, Ph.D. - Harper & Row Publishers, NY, 1988
-Walking A Thin Line by Pam Vredevelt and Joyce Whitman - Mullnomah Press, Oregon 1985
-Eating Disorders Handout - Sudbury General Hospital Eating Disorders Clinic (information for handout obtain from NEDIC)

Copyright © 1996 by [Colleen Thompson]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 14 Jul 2008 10:31:06 -0400.