Anorexia's Effects on Blood, Bone Density, and Body Functions
Anorexia's Effects on Blood, Bone Density, and
Body Functions
Anorexia nervosa, an eating
disorder that is characterized by a fear of gaining weight, body image
problems, and stopping of menstrual periods, is the third most common chronic
illness in teen girls and affects up to 4% of all teen girls in the United
States. When people with anorexia eat so little, essential body functions - like
menstruation, bone development, body temperature, and heart
regulation - can become disrupted. Because the incidence of anorexia is
increasing in teens, it's becoming even more important for doctors, parents, and
teens to know about and understand the health consequences of the
disorder.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and
Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and the University of
Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts, studied the physical
effects of anorexia in 60 teen girls receiving outpatient treatment and
counseling for anorexia. The girls underwent blood testing to check blood cell,
hormone, blood sugar, and potassium levels; bone density measurements; height
and weight measurements; and heart rate, body temperature, and blood pressure
measurements. The anorexic teens were then compared to a group of 58 healthy
teen girls.
Not surprisingly, the girls with anorexia had
significantly lower levels of weight, fat mass, and muscle mass, compared to the
healthy teens. In addition, girls with anorexia had significantly lower heart
rates, blood pressure, body temperature, and white blood cell counts (white
blood cells help defend the body against infection). Almost a quarter of girls
with anorexia were anemic, which means they had lowered numbers of
oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the body.
Bone development was also adversely affected -
girls with anorexia had poorer results on bone development tests compared to
healthy girls of the same chronological age. In addition, pubertal development
was hindered by the disease - girls with anorexia tended to begin menstruating
at a later age than the average for girls in the United States.
What This Means to You: Even in
teens being treated for anorexia on an outpatient basis, there can be serious
medical problems that affect the blood, hormones, and bones. If your child has
been diagnosed with anorexia, he or she should be monitored regularly for
metabolic problems that could affect bone density and heart function, in
addition to receiving nutritional and behavioral counseling. Your child's
doctor, therapist, or registered dietitian can help your child work toward
achieving a healthy weight and psychological well-being.
Source: Madhusmita Misra, MD; Avichal Aggarwal, MD;
Karen K. Miller, MD; Cecilia Almazan, BS; Megan Worley, BA; Leslie A. Soyka, MD;
David B. Herzog, MD; Anne Klibanski, MD; Pediatrics, December
2004
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date
reviewed: December 2004