starvation diets and anorexia

helthymom6
helthymom6 Posts: 77
edited September 25 in Health and Weight Loss
First off I hope no one is offended by this question. I know some people really struggle with eating disorders and I have no desire to belittle the fact that they do exsist. That being said if starvation diets are so bad for you how do anorexic people lose weight and get so small?

Replies

  • Fat2FitChick
    Fat2FitChick Posts: 451 Member
    Because their body is literally eating itself, muscle and all. That's why they risk heart problems, kidney & liver problems.
  • Kat120285
    Kat120285 Posts: 1,599 Member
    Their bodies literally eat themselves. If you don't properly feed your body the nutrients it needs and the calories it needs, then it goes after itself. It'll turn to the fat for fuel and once that is gone it'll turn to muscle.
  • taiyola
    taiyola Posts: 964 Member
    When I was suffering from an eating disorder I was about 14lb lighter, but had a bigger sized waist o.O
  • flutterqueen04
    flutterqueen04 Posts: 278
    Their body starts to rely on muscle mass to fuel it. It breaks down muscle and then you'd become what is known as "skinny fat" where you are thin but you have no muscle at all. You will be weak and sullen looking. Not healthy at all and not the sexy look that most often they are trying to strive for. You are also at a higher risk of health problems like heart and organ failure.
  • HoopFire5602
    HoopFire5602 Posts: 423 Member
    They don't eat. Plain and simple. And they aren't necesarily on a starvation 'diet' Anorexia is a psychological disorder, not a diet. There are others who chose to do this willingly ('pro ana/pro mia') but it is majorly frowned upon because the damage starvation does to your body. Here are some examples:

    ---Abnormally slow heart rate

    ---Low blood pressure

    ---Changes in the heart muscle

    ---Risk of heart failure

    ---Electrolyte imbalance

    ---Anemia

    ---Reduced estrogen secretion

    ---No periods

    ---Changes in your bones. They lose density. This is called osteoporosis. Your bones can then break more easily.

    ---Dental problems including erosion of your enamel

    ---Loss of muscle tone throughout your body

    ---Weakness

    ---Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure

    ---Hair loss is common

    ---Fainting

    ---Growth of a downy layer of hair called lanugo all over the body, including the face. This happens because your body is trying to stay warm.

    ---Death. Hospitalization may be required to restore your weight. Over 10% of people admitted to the hospital for treatment of anorexia eventually die from their anorexia.


    So even though they may be thin (which I repeat again, isn't neccesarily the main goal; self control is) they still will suffer with many symptoms and could even die from starvation.
  • kevbrinks
    kevbrinks Posts: 42 Member
    Extreme starvation may lead to an increase in size of the stomach. This is called Kwashiorkor.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwashiorkor

    You may have seen this when looking at pictures of starving Ethiopian children.
  • ♥Faerie♥
    ♥Faerie♥ Posts: 14,053 Member
    Thank you HoopFire.....it is definitely not a "diet"
    it is a disease....
  • rockabyesarojane
    rockabyesarojane Posts: 471
    what they said.

    plus they are weak. they have no energy.

    and when ppl say that their body attacks itself. that includes hair falling out. or smelling like you are rotting. because you are. from the inside out. pretty scary stuff.
  • rockabyesarojane
    rockabyesarojane Posts: 471
    just would like to clarify that when i said "they are weak" that wasnt supposed to be anything mean. i meant physically they actually have no strength to work with.

    (just want to be clear there.)
  • Beastiephile
    Beastiephile Posts: 50
    Also, often times when one has starved themselves for so long, as soon as they try to return to a normal life and resume healthy eating habits, the weight will pack itself on quickly and immensely, which is why a lot of people suffering from this disorder have an impossible time returning to a healthy lifestyle because they are discouraged that as soon as they start eating healthy amounts of food again they will gain a lot of weight very quickly.
  • helthymom6
    helthymom6 Posts: 77
    I know it is a disease and not a diet. i was wondering why when we eat to little we don't lose weight and they do. What is the difference
  • HoopFire5602
    HoopFire5602 Posts: 423 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/3047-700-calories-a-day-and-not-losing

    Read this.

    Anorexics continue to lose weight because their bodies consume themselves. Muscles, organs, everything. But at the same time they also have a stopping point.
  • hpsnickers1
    hpsnickers1 Posts: 2,783 Member
    I know it is a disease and not a diet. i was wondering why when we eat to little we don't lose weight and they do. What is the difference

    Starvation Mode is a biological response to a lack of food/calories. When you diet and exercise (cardio) you lose muscle mass along with fat mass.

    When you consume too few calories your body responds by slowing the metabolism rather than continue burning fat. It will hold onto the fat reserves for fear of a "famine". If it continues to get too few calories then eventually it will stop burning fat ("can't let it go or I'll starve") and finds another source of fuel which is proteins from our muscles (our muscles are our metabolism). This will slow metabolism down more. And when we do eat our body will store more of it because it is burning less (slow metabolism).

    This is why anorexics continue to lose weight (they hit Starvation Mode and then went past it). Their body is 'eating' itself to stay alive. Soon, functions and organs are shut down.
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