AboutKidsHealth

 

 

Anorexia: Medical complicationsAAnorexia: Medical complicationsAnorexia: Medical complicationsEnglishPsychiatryPre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00ZSeena Grewal, MD, MSc, FRCP(C)10.000000000000053.5000000000000529.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn how anorexia causes malnutrition and disrupts the body's usual functions.</p><p>Following a very low-calorie diet or purging food over a period of time can lead to malnutrition and a number of related complications. The body is malnourished when it does not get enough nutrients to perform its usual functions.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Anorexia can result in a slow or irregular heart beat as well as very low blood pressure.</li> <li>Over time, lack of vitamins and minerals can cause bones to become weaker, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures, and can cause hair to fall out.</li> <li>Lack of nutrients for proper brain function can result in difficulties with concentration and mood swings.</li> <li>When the body is starved of nutrition, it may not produce normal levels of hormones, which can have long-lasting effects on growth, puberty and menstrual cycles.</li> </ul><p>Malnutrition can affect every part of the body. The following are some of the bodily functions and body parts that are most commonly affected in children and teens with anorexia.</p> <h2>Low or irregular heart rate</h2> <p>Anorexia can cause a person's heart rate to become critically slow (a condition known as bradycardia). The heart may also speed up abnormally when a person moves from lying down to standing up. A very slow or sudden change in heart beat makes it unsafe for someone to be out of hospital. Some people with anorexia also develop an abnormal heart rhythm that needs to be monitored in hospital.</p> <h2>Low blood pressure</h2> <p>People with anorexia may have low blood pressure or may experience a drop in their blood pressure when they move from lying down to standing up. This puts them at risk of fainting.</p> <h2>Weak bones</h2> <p>Lack of <a href="/Article?contentid=1448&language=English">calcium</a> and <a href="/Article?contentid=1447&language=English">vitamin D</a> over a long period can cause bones to become weaker. This leaves someone with anorexia at greater risk of developing <a href="/article?contentid=948&language=English">osteoporosis</a> and bone fractures in the future.</p> <h2>Mood changes​</h2> <p>Because their brain is starved of nutrients, a person with anorexia may experience mood changes, might not think clearly and might be unable to concentrate.</p> <h2>Reduced hormone levels</h2> <p>With starvation, the body may not produce normal levels of hormones. In teenage girls, this can lead to abnormal or missed periods. This is because the hormones that regulate their menstrual cycle cannot work properly if they do not eat enough fat.</p> <p>Younger children who experience anorexia may not go through puberty normally or may stop growing.</p> <h2>Thinning hair </h2> <p>Lack of vitamins and minerals can cause hair to become thinner and even fall out. Some people with anorexia may also experience lanugo. This is a type of fine hair that grows all over the body in an attempt to keep it warm when body fat levels are extremely low.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on anorexia, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">Anorexia: Overview​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=269&language=English">Anorexia: Signs and symptoms</a><br></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=700&language=English">Anorexia: Treatment options</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=266&language=English">Anorexia: How to help your child at home</a></p><h2>Resources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></p><p> <a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics – <em> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Eating-Disorders-in-Children.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a></em></p><p> <a href="http://www.b-eat.co.uk/" target="_blank">B-EAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p> <a href="http://www.keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders​</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario – <a href="http://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank"> <em>Eating Disorders​</em></a></p>
Anorexie: complications médicalesAAnorexie: complications médicalesAnorexia: Medical complicationsFrenchPsychiatryPre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00ZSeena Grewal, MD, MSc, FRCP(C)000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Apprendre comment l’anorexie cause la dénutrition et perturbe les fonctions régulières de l’organisme.</p><p>À la longue, suivre un régime à très faible teneur calorique et se purger peuvent causer la dénutrition et de nombreuses complications y liées. Le corps devient dénutri quand il ne reçoit pas assez de nutriments pour accomplir ses fonctions régulières.</p><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>L’anorexie peut provoquer un rythme cardiaque faible ou irrégulier, ainsi qu’une tension artérielle très basse.</li> <li>À la longue, une carence en vitamines et en minéraux peut affaiblir les os et provoquer l’ostéoporose ou des fractures et aussi causer la perte des cheveux.</li> <li>Éliminer les nutriments de l’organisme peut aussi entraver le fonctionnement du cerveau et provoquer des difficultés de concentration et des sautes d’humeur.</li> <li>Lorsque le corps est dénutri, il peut ne pas produire des niveaux normaux d’hormones, ce qui peut avoir des effets durables sur la croissance, la puberté et les cycles menstruels.</li> </ul><p>La dénutrition peut entraîner des troubles de tout l’organisme. Voici quelques-unes des fonctions corporelles et des parties du corps qui font le plus souvent l’objet de complications médicales chez les enfants et les adolescents anorexiques.</p> <h2>Rythme cardiaque faible ou irrégulier</h2> <p>L’anorexie peut provoquer une lenteur critique du rythme cardiaque (une affection appelée bradycardie). Le cœur peut aussi accélérer anormalement quand une personne se déplace d’une position couchée à une position debout. Il est dangereux d’être hors de l’hôpital lorsque son rythme cardiaque est très faible ou sujet à des changements brusques. Certains anorexiques développent aussi un rythme cardiaque anormal qui a besoin d’être surveillé à l’hôpital.</p> <h2>Hypotension artérielle</h2> <p>Les anorexiques peuvent avoir une tension artérielle basse ou éprouver une baisse de tension artérielle lorsqu’ils se déplacent de la position couchée à la position debout. Cela les met à risque d’évanouissement.</p> <h2>Faiblesse des os</h2> <p>Une carence en <a href="/Article?contentid=1448&language=French">calcium</a> ou en <a href="/Article?contentid=1447&language=French">vitamine D</a> pendant une longue période peut rendre les os plus faibles, ce qui met l’anorexique à risque de développer l’<a href="/Article?contentid=948&language=French">ostéoporose</a> ou de subir des fractures d’os dans le futur.</p> <h2>Changements d’humeur</h2> <p>Lorsque le cerveau est privé de nutriments, l’anorexique éprouvera des changements plus fréquents d’humeur et sera moins apte à penser clairement et à se concentrer.</p> <h2>Niveaux d’hormones réduits</h2> <p>Avec la privation d’aliments, le corps peut ne pas produire des niveaux normaux d’hormones. Chez les adolescentes, cela peut provoquer des menstruations anormales ou irrégulières parce que les hormones qui régulent leur cycle menstruel ne peuvent pas fonctionner normalement si elles ne mangent pas suffisamment de gras.</p> <p>Les enfants plus jeunes qui souffrent d’anorexie peuvent ne pas avoir une puberté normale ou ils peuvent cesser de grandir.</p> <h2>Perte de cheveux</h2> <p>Une carence en vitamines et en minéraux peut causer l’amincissement ou la perte des cheveux. Certains anorexiques sont recouverts de lanugo. Il s’agit de poils duveteux qui recouvrent tout le corps pour le protéger du froid lorsque la masse adipeuse est beaucoup trop faible.</p><h2>En savoir plus</h2> <p>Pour plus d’informations sur l’anorexie, veuillez consulter les pages suivantes:</p> <p><a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=French">Anorexie: présentation génerale</a></p> <p><a href="/Article?contentid=269&language=French">Anorexie: signes avant-coureurs</a></p> <p><a href="/Article?contentid=700&language=French">Anorexie: options de traitement</a></p> <p><a href="/Article?contentid=266&language=French">Anorexie: comment aider votre enfant à la maison​</a></p> <h2>Ressources</h2> <p><a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – Centre d’information sur les troubles alimentaires</a> (Canada)</p> <p><a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/">NEDA – Association nationale des troubles alimentaires</a> (États-Unis)</p> <p>L'académie américaine de pédiatrie – <em><a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Eating-Disorders-in-Children.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a></em></p> <p><a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">B-EAT – Lutter contre les troubles alimentaires</a> (Royaume Uni)</p> <p><a href="http://www.keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Troubles alimentaires Kelty</a> (Centre de ressources sur la santé mentale Kelty, Hôpital pour enfants de la Colombie-Britannique)</p> <p>Le Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario – <a href="http://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank"><em>Eating Disorders​</em></a></p>

 

 

Anorexia: Medical complications267.000000000000Anorexia: Medical complicationsAnorexia: Medical complicationsAEnglishPsychiatryPre-teen (9-12 years);Teen (13-18 years)BodyNAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00ZSeena Grewal, MD, MSc, FRCP(C)10.000000000000053.5000000000000529.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn how anorexia causes malnutrition and disrupts the body's usual functions.</p><p>Following a very low-calorie diet or purging food over a period of time can lead to malnutrition and a number of related complications. The body is malnourished when it does not get enough nutrients to perform its usual functions.</p><h2>Key points</h2> <ul> <li>Anorexia can result in a slow or irregular heart beat as well as very low blood pressure.</li> <li>Over time, lack of vitamins and minerals can cause bones to become weaker, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures, and can cause hair to fall out.</li> <li>Lack of nutrients for proper brain function can result in difficulties with concentration and mood swings.</li> <li>When the body is starved of nutrition, it may not produce normal levels of hormones, which can have long-lasting effects on growth, puberty and menstrual cycles.</li> </ul><p>Malnutrition can affect every part of the body. The following are some of the bodily functions and body parts that are most commonly affected in children and teens with anorexia.</p> <h2>Low or irregular heart rate</h2> <p>Anorexia can cause a person's heart rate to become critically slow (a condition known as bradycardia). The heart may also speed up abnormally when a person moves from lying down to standing up. A very slow or sudden change in heart beat makes it unsafe for someone to be out of hospital. Some people with anorexia also develop an abnormal heart rhythm that needs to be monitored in hospital.</p> <h2>Low blood pressure</h2> <p>People with anorexia may have low blood pressure or may experience a drop in their blood pressure when they move from lying down to standing up. This puts them at risk of fainting.</p> <h2>Weak bones</h2> <p>Lack of <a href="/Article?contentid=1448&language=English">calcium</a> and <a href="/Article?contentid=1447&language=English">vitamin D</a> over a long period can cause bones to become weaker. This leaves someone with anorexia at greater risk of developing <a href="/article?contentid=948&language=English">osteoporosis</a> and bone fractures in the future.</p> <h2>Mood changes​</h2> <p>Because their brain is starved of nutrients, a person with anorexia may experience mood changes, might not think clearly and might be unable to concentrate.</p> <h2>Reduced hormone levels</h2> <p>With starvation, the body may not produce normal levels of hormones. In teenage girls, this can lead to abnormal or missed periods. This is because the hormones that regulate their menstrual cycle cannot work properly if they do not eat enough fat.</p> <p>Younger children who experience anorexia may not go through puberty normally or may stop growing.</p> <h2>Thinning hair </h2> <p>Lack of vitamins and minerals can cause hair to become thinner and even fall out. Some people with anorexia may also experience lanugo. This is a type of fine hair that grows all over the body in an attempt to keep it warm when body fat levels are extremely low.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on anorexia, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=268&language=English">Anorexia: Overview​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=269&language=English">Anorexia: Signs and symptoms</a><br></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=700&language=English">Anorexia: Treatment options</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=266&language=English">Anorexia: How to help your child at home</a></p><h2>Resources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Information Centre</a> (Canada)<br></p><p> <a href="http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics – <em> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Eating-Disorders-in-Children.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a></em></p><p> <a href="http://www.b-eat.co.uk/" target="_blank">B-EAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p> <a href="http://www.keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders​</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario – <a href="http://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank"> <em>Eating Disorders​</em></a></p><img alt="" height="2577" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_medical_complications.jpg" width="3864" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/anorexia_medical_complications.jpgAnorexia: Medical complicationsFalse
Thank you to our sponsors

AboutKidsHealth is proud to partner with the following sponsors as they support our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Canada and around the world by making accessible health care information available via the internet.

Find and follow us online Monthly newsletter sign-up