But now, blame for that bone loss has been shifted from estrogen levels to the woman's weight, say researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. Anorexics often develop dry skin, thinning hair, frequent illness, bad moods and trouble concentrating.
Women often stop menstruating, and anorexia generally leads to bone-density loss.
People with severe anorexia risk death from starvation. More than 90 percent of women participating in the Massachusetts study showed significant bone-density loss in the spine and hips, he says. The research team studied 130 women in their mid-20s who had anorexia nervosa. Each participant weighed less than 85 percent of her ideal weight. None of the women were hospitalized.