The Medical and Psychological Risks of Eating Disorders

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

online conference transcript

Dr. Sacker joined us to discuss the medical risks of eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), which range from hair loss, kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, esophageal rupture, loss of menstrual period, to heart failure. He also commented on the problems that the audience shared, including how eating disorders affect fertility and pregnant women and problems with diet pills. What if you abused ipecac syrup, or abuse diuretics, or have been abusing laxatives?

To find out what these behaviors can result in, read the transcript below.

David Roberts is the HealthyPlace.com moderator.

The people in blue are audience members.

David: Good Evening. I'm David Roberts. I'm the moderator for tonight's conference. I want to welcome everyone to HealthyPlace.com. Our topic tonight is "The Medical and Psychological Risks of Eating Disorders." Our guest is Dr. Ira Sacker, director of the Eating Disorders Program at Brookdale Medical Center and co-author of the book, Dying To Be Thin.

Dr. Sacker is also the founder of HEED, "Helping To End Eating Disorders," a support and information organization based in New York. Just so everyone knows, Dr. Sacker is a medical doctor and so he's well-qualified to speak to the medical complications involved in eating disorders.

Good evening, Dr. Sacker, and welcome to HealthyPlace.com. Thank you for joining us tonight. Am I right in assuming that most people do NOT die from an eating disorder, but are more likely to suffer from different medical complications as a result of having anorexia or bulimia?

Dr. Sacker: Yes and no. Up to 20% still die from the complications. Usually a death certificate won't read "death from anorexia." It will read something like "death from heart failure."

David: From emails I receive, I think many people are under the mistaken impression that the only real medical problem that results from anorexia or bulimia is malnutrition. But that's not true, is it?

Dr. Sacker: No, it is definitely not true.

David: Maybe you can talk a bit about the medical complications of anorexia.

Dr. Sacker: Okay. Some of the medical complications of anorexia include hair loss, kidney failure, electrolyte imbalance, esophageal rupture secondary to vomiting, and loss of menstrual period, resulting in possibilities of osteoporosis and infertility. There are also cardiac complications which can result in sudden death.

David: And what about medical complications of bulimia? (risks of bulimia)

Dr. Sacker: Additional complications include ruptured blood vessels in eyes, all of the cardiac and renal complications, as well as multiple ulcers of the esophagus and stomach.

David: If one starts engaging in disordered eating behaviors, how long does it take for medical complications to arise?

Dr. Sacker: That really depends on the individual.

David: On the average though, are we talking about a few weeks or a few months, or many months, even years before any serious medical complications arise?

Dr. Sacker: Certain complications, like hair loss and loss of menstrual period, may occur rather soon, but other complications such as osteoporosis or heart and kidney disease, may not been seen at first, therefore giving the person a false sense of health.

David: The reason I asked that question is because there are many people suffering from eating disorders who think "this will never happen to me."

Dr. Sacker: That is where they are mistaken. This is a very seductive and unforgiving illness. You think that you are in control initially, but then realize that you actually have no control at all.

David: We have a lot of audience questions, Dr. Sacker. Let's get to a few of those right now, and then I want to address some of the psychological complications resulting from eating disorders. Here's the first question:

ChristineCC: What causes the ruptured blood vessels in the eyes, Dr. Sacker? I have those.

Dr. Sacker: Purging causes increased pressure which can be transmitted to the chambers of the eye.

BurnhamBuggirl: How long can you go without a period before you are infertile?

Dr. Sacker: The earlier the diagnosis is made, and the earlier the malnutrition is corrected, the greater the chance of full recovery of fertility.

David: Can one become permanently infertile as a result of prolonged anorexia or bulimia?

Dr. Sacker: Yes, you certainly can.