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Hi: It’s difficult to discuss
Hi:
It’s difficult to discuss individual “worst cases” of eating disorders for confidentiality reasons. However, there is no shortage of information regarding the devastating impact of these serious and sometimes fatal illnesses.
Anorexia causes an intense fear of weight gain (even if the person is actually underweight), and resistance to maintaining even minimally normal weight for a person’s age and height. Individuals suffering from anorexia exhibit extreme weight loss, preoccupation with food and weight, and anxiety about their body image. A person with anorexia may develop rituals around food, and participate in excessive exercise routines in order to “burn off” calories. As the illness progresses, the anorexic withdraws from friends and family, and avoids normal activities.
Left untreated, anorexia can cause heart failure, kidney problems, muscle loss, and overall weakness and fatigue. Anorexia has one of the highest death rates of any mental health condition, and between 5 – 20 percent of anorexics will die from their illness.
Bulimia involves the intake of large amounts of food, followed by inappropriate compensatory behavior such as self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or excessive and compulsive exercise routines. As with anorexia, a person with bulimia will exhibit extreme concern regarding their body weight and image, withdrawal from usual activities and relationships, and the creation of rituals in order to manage their weight and control food. Electrolyte imbalances resulting from purging can result in possible heart failure and death.
There are other serious eating disorders which have severe implications for a person’s health. You may find it helpful to visit some personal blogs and websites on the internet if you are looking for individual stories of a person’s struggle with eating disorders. Wishing you well.
Amy