Eating disorders are troublesome illnesses affecting a wide range of people. Mainly young adolescents, unfortunately, according to ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; Eating disorders in adolescents:Principles of diagnosis and treatment, the article states that eating disorders rank as the third most common chronic illness in young females. With the degree of up to 5% rate that has dramatically increased over decades. There are many types of eating disorders however the most common in adolescents are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. 

Anorexia Nervosa is when a person shows intense fear of gaining weight and usually restricts their meals to keep in check of their “ideal weight.” According to mayoclinic.org; Anorexia Nervosa, the article states people with anorexia “may control calorie intake by vomiting after eating or by misusing laxatives, diet aids, diuretics or enemas.” They also may have a habit of exercising excessively to lose weight. “No matter how much weight is lost the person continues to fear of gaining weight.”

Bulimia Nervosa is when a person intensively binges on a large excessive amount of food followed by purging, to get rid of the calories in an unhealthy manner. According to mayoclinic.org; Bulimia Nervosa, the article states people with bulimia “may regularly self-induce vomiting or misuse laxatives, weight-loss supplements, diuretics or enemas after bingeing”. They may also exercise, fast, and diet.

Most people develop an eating disorder during their puberty which is connected by a recent study in an article called Puberty as a Critical Risk Period for Eating Disorders: A Review of Human and Animal Studies; provided by ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. This article states that “Ovarian hormones in physical and genetic risk for eating disorders during puberty.” The article mainly wants to talk about how “human and animal studies in support of puberty as a critical risk period for eating disorders and evaluate the evidence for hormonal contributions.” So how exactly do ovarian hormones affect eating disorders? Well, Ovarian hormones (estrogen) seem to be “activated ” during puberty and may increase the physical risk for eating disorders in girls. It’s not known why this happens but the point is it does. This has been also shown in animals (rhesus monkeys) showing that ovarian hormones have a direct effect on food intake as well. This questions how exactly eating disorders work. Is it solely on genetics, epigenetics, environment, social conduct, etc? If puberty does play a role in increasing the risk for eating disorders in women, what makes it prone to one set of groups more than others? I propose an idea that eating disorders are affected by multiple different factors and not solely based on hormones/genetics, but that has yet to be thought out. This study makes us think of the role of hormones vs. eating disorders in women which perhaps may give a closer understanding of this chronic illness.

The long-term effects of eating disorders can be deadly. Adolescents who have anorexia nervosa are prone to depression and anxiety, may turn to alcohol and drug abuse as well. The physical effect of anorexia nervosa is Bradycardia which is when the heart goes in an abnormal heartbeat. Ranging from 60-100 heartbeats a minute. The flow of blood rate is reduced to a significant amount and blood pressure drops, the heart becomes weaker and shrinks to a smaller size. Electrode semblance is due to the lack of necessary minerals. which is needed for the heart stems. Due to dehydration and starvation, these minerals aren’t provided. Other long-term effects include the potential loss of calcium to the bones, seizures, anemia, gestational issues, organ failure, and many more. As for a person who has Bulimia nervosa they will or may experience poor self-esteem, anxiety depression, cardiovascular complication, high blood pressure, diabetes,heartburn, and many more. There are also financial implications for people who have this disorder. For example expensive food purchases.

It’s not a surprise how deadly and traumatizing these eating disorders can be. However, more andmore studies are shown about this topic. Perhaps in the near future, we will have better medical and physiological care in patients who do have eating disorders.