Diet

Women's Diet: The Physical Red Flags of Eating Disorders

From hair loss to infertility, the internal damage inflicted on the body by eating disorders leaves its marks on the outside too

by Rachel Parsons

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Hair Malnutrition and dehydration, the hatchet men of eating disorders, ravage the inside of your body, and their impact is reflected on the outside. How? Let's start with hair.

Hair is made of a protein called keratin. In order to sustain hair growth, the body needs protein. As the body of a person with an eating disorder is deprived of nutrients, it is forced to prioritize survival and, guess what, a beautiful head of hair doesn't quite make that list. Consequently, a diet that is deficient in protein will result -- in as little as four to six weeks -- in dry/brittle hair, thinning hair and even hair loss.

But while hair may be lost from their heads, anorexics can expect to grow new hair on their face and bodies. Lanugo, a soft, downy hair that grows largely on the face, back and arms, is nature's defense against periods of starvation and malnutrition -- it is the body's attempt to keep itself warm � to survive.

Next: How eating disorders affect skin and nails

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Older comments

While this article only scratches the surface of what is happening with eating disorders, there IS a lot of good information here that will hopefully help people either know when to seek help or know when to try to seek help for a friend or family member.

by tallredamanda Friday, July 6, 2012 at 01:50PM Report as inappropriate

Eating disorders are very complex diseases and sadly this article doesn't portray them for what they really are..... a serious mental illness. On the other hand.. i did actually find this article to be extremely helpful and interesting when it came to the info on the actual effects and risks of malnutrition and dehydration.

by MiSSxLusciouSxLokitA Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 08:50PM Report as inappropriate

thanks

by pamken Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 03:13PM Report as inappropriate

Eating disorders are more about control than body image. If a life is spiraling out of control, food intake is often the only thing a person has any control over. Sadly, there are few places where a person can find help. Insurance will not pay usually until the disease becomes life-threatening. This article is too superficial and doesn't address the real causes. The unfortunate part of eating disorders is that we are so obsessed with admiring those who are very think that anorexia nervosa and bulimia are overlooked or accepted as a way to stay thin.

by librarybug01 Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 06:31PM Report as inappropriate

thanks

by cielona_boco Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 07:23AM Report as inappropriate

That's horrible and so sad. It's especially easy for women to become obsessed with their looks because of all the pressure to look perfect!

by patricia89 Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 05:42PM Report as inappropriate

its alwasy about a healthy diet, butfor the first days ur loosing weight its better to avoid sugar, like donuta chocolates, and all thos stuff, after you lost a fewpounds a chocolate once a week its good!

by juan_carlos_ruiz_valencia Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at 12:55PM Report as inappropriate

wow

by gisellemarie Friday, September 30, 2011 at 06:43AM Report as inappropriate

I agree. I have had several friends who suffered from eating disorders and this article doesn't address half of the symptoms.

by vfalkow Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 07:21PM Report as inappropriate

I'm dissapointed with this article as well.

by MissPurple Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 12:15PM Report as inappropriate