Problems range from slow heartbeat to heart failure and sudden cardiac death.
Summary
According to nutritionist Marcella Garcez, eating disorders can lead to cardiovascular complications and the risk of death due to malnutrition and electrolyte imbalances.
Although many people don’t know it, eating disorders can kill, and some of these deaths are caused by cardiovascular complications.
“The relationship between eating disorders and heart health has been studied for years. The heart is severely affected by weight loss and malnutrition, so the more severe the disorder, the more likely a person is to have heart complications. Eating disorders concern complex issues, affect and influence mental health, but have repercussions on the entire organism”, explains the nutritionist. Marcella Garcezdirector and professor at the Brazilian Association of Nutrology (ABRAN).
The most common eating disorders include anorexia and bulimia, both characterized by obsession with weight and distorted body image.
“People with anorexia avoid or severely restrict food and may exercise incessantly. Bulimic people often purge after binge eating, vomiting, or use of laxatives or diuretics. Some anorexic people also eat compulsively,” says the doctor.
Other disorders
Two other more recently defined eating disorders are binge eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive eating disorder, which influence eating behaviors but do not include obsessions with body image. Furthermore, another problem with eating disorders is that when in contact with food, cravings speak louder than the need to nourish the body.
“It is not uncommon for patients with eating disorders to have a dietary pattern that does not include healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and sources of fiber. Therefore it is not uncommon for there to be a deficiency of nutrients,” she adds.
The nutritionist explains that eating disorders can cause changes in the heart that pose greater cardiovascular health risks throughout your life. It’s as if they work like a time bomb, increasing cardiac risk and, consequently, the risk of death.
“This is largely due to malnutrition in people with anorexia and electrolyte imbalances in people with bulimia. Problems range from decreased heart rate to heart failure. The eating disorder is quite serious if these things happen,” explains Marcella Garcez.
The heart suffers in different ways
Different eating disorders affect the heart differently. “In people with anorexia, malnutrition and weight loss can cause the heart muscle to shrink and the heart rate to slow, a condition known as bradycardia, in which the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute at rest. Anorexia can also cause other heart rhythm abnormalities,” explains the doctor.
“When a person of any size limits their food intake, they often develop a slow heart rate. This occurs because the body has slowed its metabolism. Depending on the extent of the restriction and time, the heart atrophies. Slow down like a hibernating bear. And this can turn into dangerous rhythms.”
In 2023, an article by Journal of Eating Disorders found that people with anorexia have the second highest risk of mortality among all psychiatric conditions. An article from The British Journal of Psychiatry 2020 brought data from Canada showing that people hospitalized for eating disorders may be five to seven times more likely to die than the general population.
In the case of bulimia, the problem is that excessive vomiting and the use of laxatives can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, which increases the risk of heart rhythm abnormalities.
“The damage caused to the heart by bulimia can also cause congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death,” explains Marcella.
The problem affects women more
While eating disorders can affect people of any age and gender, they may occur more in teenage girls and women in their twenties. Concerned parents and other loved ones should watch for signs that someone is obsessing over their weight, exercising obsessively, habitually lifting the table during a meal to go to the bathroom, or wearing baggy clothes to hide how thin they are, she explains the doctor. nutritionist.
“Signs and symptoms that someone’s eating disorder could be causing heart problems include dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, frequent nosebleeds, and lack of energy,” she adds.
Getting someone suffering from an eating disorder back to a healthy weight can address structural changes in the heart caused by malnutrition, but it must be done with caution and medical monitoring.
“Severely malnourished people are at high risk of refeeding syndrome, which occurs when nutrition is reintroduced too quickly. It can be fatal. It’s also important not to blame people for developing an eating disorder. These are not disorders of choice and we must recognize that. There is a genetic component. If one of the parents has it, there is a high probability that her children will also develop it”, concludes Marcella.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
