The Many Dangers of Inadequate Eating Disorder Treatment
Inadequate treatment for eating disorders can lead to a variety of dangers and negative consequences, up to and including death. Inadequate treatment and relapses are common in the eating disorder recovery journey. It can be challenging to find eating disorder specialists. The following are just some of the serious, primary risks associated with insufficient eating disorder treatment:
1. Physical Health Risks:
Nutrition Deficiencies in eating disorders: Lack of proper nutrition can lead to starvation, loss of body tissue, and macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies, affecting overall health.
Heart Problems: Irregular heartbeats, dizziness, heart failure, or other cardiovascular issues can arise from extreme dieting or purging behaviors, including compulsive exercise.
Gastrointestinal Issues: Consequences can include constipation, bloating, or severe digestive problems. These issues are often falsely diagnosed as a GI issue, and can often be resolved with nutrition therapy and rehabilitation.
Bone Health: Osteoporosis or decreased bone density can occur, leading to fractures or long-term skeletal issues. Stress fractures and acute fractures may be more common.
Kidney Damage: Severe dehydration or electrolyte imbalances can damage kidney function. Malnutrition can contribute to strain on the kidneys.
Hormonal Imbalances: Disruptions in the endocrine system often lead to menstrual irregularities or fertility issues. Testosterone can be affected and lead to erectile disfunction and loss of sexual interest.
2. Psychological Consequences:
Co-occurring Disorders: Inadequate eating disorder treatment may lead to or exacerbate anxiety, depression PTSD, or substance abuse issues, and these issues may exacerbate the eating disorder. Eating Disorders don’t occur in a vacuum as a sole mental health issue.
Low Self-esteem: Continued unhealthy body image and self-worth issues can persist or worsen.
Increased Isolation: Individuals may withdraw from social interactions due to shame or fear, exacerbating feelings of loneliness.
Untreated underlying emotional wounds that are expressed through the eating disorder symptoms. This increases risk of suicide.
3. Chronicity:
Long-term Suffering: An untreated or poorly managed eating disorder can easily become chronic, making recovery increasingly difficult over time. Eating disorders rarely ever just “go away” on their own. Relapses over the lifetime are also common.
Relapse: Insufficient treatment may not provide the necessary tools for coping, leading to higher rates of relapse. Eating disorders are pernicious in lasting effects. Many sufferers go in and out of treatment for years and even decades.
Diet Culture feeds the beliefs of the eating disorder, creating a double bind between doing what is truly healthy versus sliding back into what society says is healthy. This messaging is constantly in our faces.
4. Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors:
Increased Risk: Individuals with un- or under-treated eating disorders may have an elevated risk of suicidal ideation or self-harm.
Eating disorders can be considered a form of passive suicide (not meeting needs for living) and having an eating disorder is so unpleasant that suicidal ideation is more likely to emerge.
5. Impact on Relationships:
Strained Relationships: Eating disorders can affect family dynamics, and vice versa. This can require considerable psychological unpacking.
Friendships: Eating disorders go hand-in-hand with depression and both increase the desire to isolate. It is difficult to regulate emotions and be present, both of which have profound impacts on friendships.
Romantic relationships can be especially vulnerable due to secrecy and misunderstandings that are inherent in people struggling with eating disorders. Intimacy can be affect both by decreased interest and negative body image.
Work relationships: similar to the other types of relationships, people at work will likely notice. There is a good chance that having an eating disorder will at some point affect the quality and consistency of one's work. It is basically impossible to be at 100% while actively in an eating disorder.
6. Missed Opportunities:
Life Impact: Inadequate treatment can hinder educational pursuits, career progress, and overall quality of life. Prolonged eating disorders also increase the risk of shortened longevity as well due to chronic or acute impacts to the body.
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Quality eating disorder treatment is crucial for recovery.
Eating disorders are complex as they combine the physical/medical so much with the mental/emotional. This is why it is so important to find someone with proper training in eating disorder treatment.
Treatment involving a comprehensive approach that includes medical, nutritional, and psychological support is required for full and complete eating disorder treatment. Early intervention often leads to better long term outcomes and a happier and healthier future. It is important to know that treatment for eating disorders usually takes years, as it is an expression of client’s underlying emotional wounds. This is why behavioral skills alone will not fix an eating disorder. It is critical to find therapists and dietitians who are eating disorder trained and specialize in eating disorder treatment, as most do not and are not equipped to treat this complex issue.
Legal Disclaimer:
The content provided by Inclusive Eating Disorder Education, PLLC is for educational purposes only, aimed at helping clinicians and professionals learn about eating disorder treatment. This information is not a substitute for clinical supervision, professional training, or medical, psychological, or nutritional advice. Clinicians should always rely on their professional judgment and consult relevant healthcare providers when treating clients. IEDE assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, or outcomes related to the use of this information in practice.