Seven Negative Effects Of Anorexia

People with anorexia see themselves as fat and ugly even though in reality they are already stick thin. Due to this unrealistic body image they will end up starving themselves, exercising for hours and of course counting every single calorie in their food. Some people are unaware of this but this condition is life threatening. In fact here are some of its negative effects.

1. People with anorexia tend to suffer amenorrhea or the absence of menstruation. Anorexic women are most likely to miss 3 or more menstrual cycles. This takes place because the body no longer secretes the hormone estrogen which is responsible for the regulation of the menstrual cycle. It has not been clearly explained but somehow the lack of proper nutrition in women with anorexia can be associated with the lack of estrogen production.

2. We all know that women with anorexia may starve themselves or binge eat and then expel it through vomiting a few hours later. Such a practice can lead to poor absorption of nutrients. One essential nutrient is calcium. Because the food is not properly digested, the nutrients contained in it are not properly absorbed. In relation to this, women suffering from anorexia nervosa tend to suffer from osteoporosis which results from the lack of calcium in their bones. This condition will make them at risk for all types of fractures.

3. Another negative effect of anorexia is dehydration. This is the result of the lack of fluid intake as well as improper food intake. Women suffering from anorexia indulge in extreme dieting; extreme meaning they starve themselves to death. They starve themselves because they think that eating will make them fat and even though they are already as thin as a stick they still see themselves as fat and plump.

4. Anorexic people really look sick. They do not only look thin but you will notice that their hair tends to be brittle leading to hair loss, their skin dry as the desert and their nails break off easily. This is another result of the lack of essential vitamins and nutrients as well as the lack of fluids inside an anorexic person's body.

5. Women with anorexia are always discontented with how they look. Every time they look at the mirror they see someone that is fat, ugly, plump and not pleasing at all. Because of this, they might not only drive themselves to starving and over exercising but they can also suffer from depression. The idea of being fat and living in a world where almost everyone is obsessed with being thin can be depressing enough. Without the proper support, these people can fall deeper into depression which can have disastrous and fatal results in the long run.

6. Anorexia can also cause women to withdraw from society. You might notice them looking withdrawn and always holding a notebook and calculating the calories and fats that are contained in the food being served to them. Such acts are beyond normal. These women tend to be so engrossed with their weight they might not bother to go out and socialize anymore; instead, they spend more time at the gym or at home doing exercises for hours.

7. Ulcers. Due to the fact that women suffering from anorexia nervosa starve themselves they are putting themselves at risk with ulcer. These ulcers usually take place in the intestine and most commonly in the stomach. This is the result of high concentrations of gastric or stomach acids that eat through the lining because there is nothing to breakdown. Ulcer if left untreated can lead to bleeding and eventually death.

Anorexia nervosa is one of the many eating disorders some of the women today may suffer from. The effects may look pleasant at first but eventually the abnormal practices will take its toll on the body.