Anorexia Nervosa : complications

Anorexia nervosa (AN) represents a significant and increasingly prevalent challenge in mental health, particularly affecting young women aged between 10 to 20 years. Characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image, this disorder leads individuals to restrict their food intake severely, resulting in dangerous weight loss and malnutrition. While the pursuit of thinness and fear of fatness, often fueled by societal and cultural pressures, are central to the development of AN, the consequences extend far beyond these psychological stressors.

Alarmingly, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder, with up to 3% of young women affected. Approximately 5% of those diagnosed succumb to the disorder within four years, underscoring its severity and the urgent need for effective interventions​​.This high mortality rate is not solely due to the direct effects of starvation; it also encompasses the increased risk of suicide among these individuals.

The physical impact of AN is profound and far-reaching. Severe weight loss and chronic malnutrition inflict extensive organ damage, which can persist over time, even with effective management of the disorder. Such physical detriments often become life-threatening and contribute significantly to the increased mortality associated with AN.

Moreover,...