List symptoms and health risks of anorexia and bulimia?

Answer 1

Victims of anorexia avoid eating situations, weighs themselves frequently, monitors food intake carefully, develops rigid food rituals and avoids certain foods, they are unhappy with their body size, and they develop a denial of hunger. Some emotional and mental signs include: depression, social isolation, low self-esteem and self-worth, controlling personality, perfectionist, rigid, inflexible, low sex-drive, inability to concentrate and insomnia. Some physical signs include low-body-weight, lack of energy, fatigue, unsteady gait, complains of being cold or having tingling in hands and feet, thinning of hair loss and excessive exercise.

Some health risks of anorexia include deficiency in energy and other nutrients. Because of this, the body uses stored fat and lean tissue (possibly organ and muscle tissues) as energy to keep the brain functioning . The body may also shut down non-vital organs to conserve energy such as the menstrual cycle. There is also the possibility of electrolyte imbalances (which can lead to irregular heartbeats, heart failure and death), cardiovascular problems (rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting), gastrointestinal problems (the GI tract becomes weak and lose its ability to function, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, loss of peristalsis, delayed emptying of food from intestines), bone problems (deprivation of bone-building nutrients such as calcium, amenorrhea which is associated with estrogen production which causes poor bone health and leads to osteoporosis), muscle and organ wasting (reduced ability to repair and maintain protein tissue), reproduction problems (lack of ability to get pregnant), and problems to the skin, hair and nails (dry, fragile skin, thinning of the hair, and brittle nails).

Behavioral signs of bulimia include binge eating at least twice a week for three months, vomiting, and misuse of medications such as laxatives, fasting, or excessing exercise in response to binging. Emotional and mental signs include body weight and shape influence self-esteem, withdrawal from family and friends, statements that weight loss or dieting are of primary concern, and low self-esteem and/or depression. Some physical signs include the disappearance of large amounts of food, frequent trips to the bathroom, excessive exercise, swelling of cheeks or jaw area, tooth decay and tooth staining, calluses on hands, and complaints of GI discomforts or pain.

Some health risks of bulimia include an electrolyte imbalance(which can lead to irregular heartbeats, heart failure and death), GI problems (inflammation, ulceration and possible rupture of the esophagus and stomach from frequent binging and vomiting), dental problems ( tooth decay and staining and mouth sores from stomach acids), calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting), and swelling of the cheeks and/or jaws.