Anorexia Nervosa: In this cycle of self-starvation, the body is denied the essential nutrients it needs to function normally. The body is forced to slow down all of its processes to conserve energy, resulting in:
- Abnormally slow heart rate and low blood pressure. These changes indicate a change in the heart muscle. The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower.
- Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure
- Fainting, fatigue, and overall weakness
- Reduction of bone density, causing dry, brittle bones
- Muscle loss and weakness
- Dry hair and skin; hair loss is common
- Growth of a downy layer of hair – lanugo – all over the body, including the face, in an effort to keep the body warm
Bulimia Nervosa: The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Health consequences include:
- Electrolyte imbalances that can lead to irregular heartbeats and possibly heart failure and death
- Electrolyte imbalance is caused by dehydration and loss of potassium, sodium, and chloride from the body as a result of purging behaviors
- Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing
- Inflammation and possible rupture of the esophagus from frequent vomiting
- Tooth decay and staining from stomach acids released during frequent vomiting
- Chronic irregular bowel movements and constipation as a result of laxative abuse
- Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis
Binge Eating Disorder: This disorder often results in many of the same health risks associated with clinical obesity, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol levels
- Heart disease as a result of elevated triglyceride levels.
- Type II diabetes
- Gallbladder disease
Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): These eating disorders cannot be clearly defined. The commonality in all of these conditions is the serious emotional and psychological suffering and/or serious problems in areas of work, school, or relationships. Examples include:
- Atypical anorexia nervosa (weight is not below normal)
- Bulimia nervosa (with less frequent behaviors)
- Binge-eating disorder (with less frequent occurrences)
- Purging disorder (purging without binge eating)
- Night eating syndrome (excessive nighttime food consumption)
Now, back to the story.
The next few weeks, in addition to learning all I could about eating disorders, I researched eating disorder treatment facilities. We needed a place with positive outcomes on treatment and appropriate for my 15-year-old daughter. We hoped we could find a facility that would also accept our insurance.
We were lucky. Many families wait months and months for admission to a facility. My daughter was admitted within two weeks to a facility close to home and they were able to work with our insurance. On the day we took her to the facility, it was a bright, sunny day in contrast to our worried and sad feelings. Once there, my daughter was taken away almost immediately. She was weighed, measured, and assessed. We (her parents and step-parents) were taken into another room, sat with the care manager, filled out the forms, paid our portion of the bill, and then toured the facility. They had allowed my daughter to take a few things to her room. (Everything packed needed to be searched.) I looked at the twin bed with my child’s baby blanket on it and I burst into tears.
It took a full five months for something in her head to click. I spoke to her on the phone weekly and we had family therapy sessions over the phone. That five months consisted of intensive therapy, including bi-weekly one-on-one therapy, family therapy, group therapy, meals, snacks, medical assessments, neurotherapy, dietary assessments, animal therapy, and art therapy, among others.
She progressed quickly once the click in her head happened. Finally, after eight months of full- and part-time residential care, my daughter was finally able to come home. There have been a few setbacks, and her care team assured us these are expected and completely normal. One year after her residential care ended, she returned to give a recovery talk to the girls currently admitted.
She is now at college and while I still worry about her (that never goes away – eating disorder or not), I know she is thriving and happy. A sharp contrast from the girl who stayed in her bedroom, avoided dinners (“I had a big lunch”), self-harmed, and fought with us every chance she got.