Body functions slow, leading to low blood pressure, an irregular or slow heart beat, loss of muscle and bone, dry hair and skin, weakness and fatigue, severe dehydration, kidney failure, and growth of fine hair over the body. The extra calories are eliminated by self-induced vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, exercising compulsively, or fasting. Regular vomiting can cause sore throat, swollen glands, and discoloration or erosion of the teeth. Bingeing and purging also disrupts the digestive system, leading to constipation, bloating, indigestion, liver and kidney damage, and electrolyte imbalances. Another type of eating disorder is binge eating disorder.
Patients eat compulsively and uncontrollably.
Although they may binge on food, they don t purge. So patients continue to gain weight. They will eat even when they re not hungry and may have difficulty stopping eating. Excessive body weight increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gall bladder disease, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. The American Anorexia Bulimia Association estimates about 40 percent of people who are obese suffer from binge eating disorder.