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The Adolescent Eating Disorders
Program
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Medical Complications
Eating disorders can cause serious medical complications that can
sometimes be permanent or even fatal. In patients who restrict their food
intake, the majority of the medical complications result from the depletion
of dietary nutrients and the atrophy of body tissue. Eventually, this
wasting away can result in damage to the heart or even death. Patients who
binge and purge are at increased risk for internal bleeding, stomach
rupture, or electrolyte abnormalities that could result in cardiac arrest.
While many of these medical problems are corrected when the patient resumes
normal eating behaviors, some may be permanent, such as osteoporosis and
infertility.
A more detailed list of body systems affected by eating disorders is
listed below.
Physical complications from eating disorders affect many of the body’s
systems:
1. Cardiovascular
a. bradycardia or slow pulse
b. low blood pressure
c. hypovolemia
d. conduction abnormalities
resulting in sudden death by cardiac arrest
2. Central Nervous System
a. decreased brain mass
b. enlarged ventricles
c. impaired concentration
d. short-term memory loss
e. neurotransmitter
abnormalities
f. hypothalamic abnormalities
g. pituitary abnormalities
3. Endocrine
a. hypercortisolism
b. hypogonadism with low
estrogen and testosterone levels
4. Electrolytes
a. metabolic alkalosis which
includes:
i. Potassium deficiency
ii. Chloride deficiency
b. hyponatremia
c. dehydration
d. kidney malfunction
5. Gastrointestinal
a. abdominal pain
b. bloating
c. ulceration of the bowel
d. esophageal
perforations/lacerations
e. esophagitis
f. pancreatitis
g. gastritis
h. gastric ulceration
i. constipation
6. Hematological
a. thrombocytopenia
b. anemia
c. leukopenia
d. bone marrow deficiency
7. Gynecological
a. irregular menses or
amenorrhea
b. infertility
c. atrophic vaginitis
8. Pulmonary – aspiration
pneumonia
9. Renal
a. prerenal and renal
azotemia
b. kidney failure
c. kidney stones
10. Dental
a. increased cavities
b. gingival deterioration
leading to over-sensitive teeth
c. ulcerations and contusions
to oral cavity
d. enamel loss
e. bleeding gums
11. Dermatological
a. dry skin
b. lanugo
c. scarring on knuckle
(Russell’s Signs)
d. acrocyanosis
e. cold intolerance
12. Musculoskeletal
a. skeletal muscle weakness,
lack of reflex
b. osteoporosis
c. loss of muscle
Return to Adolescent Eating
Disorders Program Home
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Department of Pediatrics
Arkansas Children's Hospital
800 Marshall Street
Little Rock, AR 72202
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