Anorexia nervosa in adolescence interrupts growth

Anorexia nervosa in adolescence interrupts growth and, thus, many years after recovery, this is not irreversible.

Those who suffer from anorexia in adolescence experience a delay in their growth. They may not reach its average height. At least this will make known several studies.

If anorexia develops before menstruation, young women become unable to continue growing, even if they later adopt healthy food patterns.

There are many studies that have been conducted with teenagers who have suffered from anorexia and it is known that their bones do not develop completely.

Anorexia nervosa in adolescence interrupts growth

Anorexia nervosa is characterized by being a condition in which the person loses weight in an unhealthy way.

Many times, these people follow a strict diet accompanied by a strong exercise routine.

The amount of lost weight is not healthy, it is not within the limits. Also, those who suffer from anorexia nervosa can be binge of food followed by laxatives or any type of purge.

Well, The greatest fear of a person with anorexia is to gain weight; The perception of itself and its image is altered; Most consider that they are overweight, when the reality is that their weight is very low.

A study led by Sandro Muer.

In the cases studied, Both muscle mass and bone mass, in anorexic women, was reduced, Even in populations whose anorexia was in a state of remission for prolonged periods.

In this study, of a cross cutting, the recovery of 22 women from Switzerland was analyzed; They had recovered from anorexia nervosa and an average of 27 years had elapsed.

The results were compared to another control group matched in age and sex and the results showed that, Although there was an adaptation of the bone, the women who had suffered from anorexia nervosa in adolescence suffered from secondary bone defects.

Also, maximum muscle strength had been affected in women who had been anorexic in adolescence.

The importance of early intervention

As deduced, anorexia nervosa in adolescence interrupts growth, so early and intensive intervention is essential in order to normalize body weight.

If this is achieved, growth may improve and that patients reach their potential degree of height.

Well, height deficiency is another indicators that evidence all complications that are suffered with nervous anorexia, which harms the health of adolescents in many ways.

In addition to the stature, The cognitive function is also deteriorated, as well as other processes in the future, such as pregnancy and childbirth.

On the other hand, an early diagnosis accompanied by a treatment could reduce or minimize these complications.

Today it is known that most of the young women who have been hospitalized due to anorexia nervosa have had a lower stature than expected, as in their adulthood.

If the person recovers his normal weight, he can recover his height too. However, this is not always frequent, since people fail to recover the potential height in a complete way.

But, it is already known that Anorexia nervosa affects hormonal axes And that, depending on age, clinical manifestations may vary, so, if the nervous anorexia occurs in the adolescence stage, growth will be interrupted.

Finally, studies also emphasize that anorexia nervosa, like depression, are associated with osteoporosis; That is, adolescents with nervous anorexia and depression will have a much lower bone mineral density than other young people with a healthy lifestyle.

Why does silence bother us so much?

Bibliography

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• Sandro Manuel Mueller, Marilyn Immoos, Elmar Anliker, Suzana Drobnjak, Urs Boutellier, Marco Toigo, Reduced Bone Strength and Muscle Force In Women 27 Years After Anorexia Nervosa Nervosa, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 100, number 8, August 1, 2015, pages 2927-2933, https: // academic.OUP.com/JCEM/ARTICLE/100/8/2927/2836105