The Effects of Eating Disorders

While eating disorders result from a serious mental and behavioral health condition, they can lead to other serious physical health problems.

An individual with anorexia or bulimia may experience dehydration as well as other medical complications. In advanced stages, it can affect the brain and cause symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, agitation, confusion, inability to concentrate, and loss of memory.

Anorexia may affect one's growth, bone mass, cause puberty delays, an irregular heartbeat and blood pressure problems, and gastrointestinal problems. The continuous vomiting involved in bulimia can cause tears and severe inflammation of the esophagus, in addition to gastric disturbances, blood pressure problems, and erosion of tooth enamel.

Behavioral problems, such as sexual promiscuity, crime (often shoplifting), and drug and alcohol abuse are more common in teens with bulimia. When kids with bulimia are caught up in a binge eating and purging cycle, they tend to become very impulsive. They feel like they're invisible, or just feel really impulsive and embarrassed to buy some of the things that they want.