Anorexia and bulimia are detrimental to your health and to your athletic performance. Because a young adult athlete's body is youthful and therefore somewhat forgiving, an athlete with anorexia or bulimia may continue to perform athletically quite well for longer periods of time than one might initially expect. However, it is just a matter of time before depriving the body of the needed energy supply and the needed nutrients will have an impact. Eating disorders, such as bulimia, have medical complications that effect virtually every organ system in the body to some degree.
If you are engaging in bulimic or anorexic behavior, you are depleting or depriving your body of calcium that can result in the weakening of the bones and the development of osteoporosis. This increases the likelihood of suffering bone fractures and can lead to osteoporosis, a very serious crippling bone disease later in life.
If you are purging through the use of laxatives, diuretics or vomiting, you are depleting your body of potassium, which can result in heart arrhythmia's, which can be fatal. You are also risking internal bleeding and dehydration. Purging through vomiting also exposes the teeth and esophagus to stomach acid that deteriorates tooth enamel and scars esophageal tissue, sometimes resulting in precancerous changes in the tissues.
If you are taking inadequate amounts of food, your body cannot maintain adequate levels of glycogen. Glycogen is the basic fuel for the muscles and the brain. If you have an inadequate glycogen supply, this will affect your cognitive processes and impair your thinking process. In addition, an inadequate glycogen supply will lead to the rapid onset of muscle fatigue during strenuous exercise that adversely affects athletic performance. It also impairs the muscle tissues' ability to repair cells and heal minor injuries.
Bulimia and particularly anorexia can also lead to amenorrhea, the absence of a normal menstrual cycle. The long-term consequence of amenorrhea is now being studied.
Taking in an inadequate supply of vitamins can also have a negative impact on the body. For example, B complex vitamins help regulate important enzyme and metabolic functions. The heart, liver, thyroid, pancreas, skin, spleen, muscle tissue and kidneys can be affected by Vitamin B deficiencies. Vitamin A deficiency reduces the body's resistance to disease. Inadequate levels of Vitamin C in the body can contribute to anemia, reduced resistance to disease, and over-stimulation of the adrenal gland.
In 1987, the U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council identified the following as complications that can arise from anorexia or bulimia:
loss of muscular strength
loss of endurance
decreased oxygen utilization
decreased aerobic power
decreased speed
loss of coordination
impaired judgment
reduced blood volume
less blood flow to the kidneys
loss of muscle glycogen
reduced heart function
increased heart rate
electrolyte loss
- inability to regulate body temperature
The complications resulting from eating disorders are serious and can be life threatening.
This information is derived from a variety of sources including:
U.S. Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Council, (1987)
Zucker, P. "Medical Complications of Bulimia" The Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, Vol. 3, Nos 2/3/4 (1988/89) pages 27-40.
Diagnostic and statistical Manual IV The American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C., May (1994.)
Sizer, F and Whitney, E. Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies , West Publishing Co., New York, (1994)