After Effects of Anorexia

The after effects of anorexia are felt not only by the sufferer but also the family and friends of the person diagnosed with anorexia. A long readjustment period may be necessary while family members learn to trust that the sufferer is learning to eat appropriately and will no longer abuse their bodies. Not only will the readjustment period for the family be long but also the person experiencing this psychological disorder will find that it can take years to readjust their body image and their eating habits to something that resembles normalcy.

Another after effect of anorexia nervosa is that once a person has starved their body for months, if not years, it may initially rebel with the added amount of food. This can result in bloating from a digestive system that is readjusting to being back to normal. Digestive enzymes must readjust and resume normal production as well as blood flow to the digestive system is reestablished at a normal level.

Women and men who were formerly anorexic can also have dental issues from the lack of calcium and other nutrients that are essential to build and maintain strong healthy teeth. Many believe that because they aren’t bulimic, or vomiting to rid themselves of food, that the teeth won’t become damaged. But, like all other parts of the body which require nutrition, the teeth depend upon what is fed to the body to remain healthy.

The after effects of anorexia nervosa are less in people who receive early intervention, before major damage is done to the organ systems of the body. The strain of this eating disorder puts a strain and toll on the body functions that are both physical and psychological. Bodies begin to act in much the same way an older person’s body would act causing repair and growth to be slower.