What Are the Health Risks of Eating Disorders?
The health risks associated with Other Specified Feeding and Eating Disorders (OSFED) are numerous and varied, as these conditions can involve any number of maladaptive eating or exercise behaviors.
Some of the more serious health risks of OSFED, including Orthorexia, Body Dysmorphia, Exercise Compulsion, and Diabulimia include:
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Organ failure
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Osteoporosis
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Muscle loss and weakness
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Fatigue
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Electrolyte and chemical imbalances
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Tooth decay and staining
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Irregular bowel movements/constipation
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High blood pressure
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High cholesterol levels
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Heart disease
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Type II diabetes mellitus and/or gallbladder disease
Due to a heightened mortality rate associated with eating disorders, eating disorders can be life-threatening. In fact, research has found a mortality rate of 5.2 percent for unspecified eating disorders. Suicide can also be a risk.
You can recover from your eating disorder
Like any eating disorder, those suffering from orthorexia, body dysmorphia, exercise compulsion, diabulimia or another form of OSFED can experience serious health complications and consequences.
Please call us at 877-825-8584 to schedule a free, confidential consultation with an ERC Masters-level clinician who can help you or a loved one learn more about eating disorder treatment and medical stabilization.