Once you hit your body's optimal weight set point, then the metabolism is normalized and that means that the extra energy you were taking in for weight gain and repair now goes to the usual day-to-day functions that were not happening at all from the moment you first restricted calories (whenever that was).
Hypermetabolism is a phenomenon seen during the journey towards recovery from anorexia nervosa. When a person is actively restricting calories, the metabolism becomes very slow.
How long does hypermetabolism last in anorexia recovery? Calories have to be increased slowly in steps. hypermetabolism may last three to six months after weight restoration.
Basically, anything that lowers stress hormones and restores balance to your neuroendocrine system will aid your recovery. Expect to be back on track within 1-3 months.
Digestion and Metabolism
Long-term anorexia destroys the digestive tract and promotes severe constipation. The body will go into “starvation mode” and stall the metabolic process in an attempt to hold onto every calorie.
Anorexia nervosa damages nearly every system in the body, with long-term, permanent damage more likely to develop the longer someone struggles with the illness. Unfortunately, this type of damage can lead to premature death.
Body Dysmorphia and Negative Body Image
Bodies restore weight at different paces. For the best outcome, the weight restoration process happens relatively quickly, over a few weeks or months. It can be challenging to cope with this change, simply because it happens so fast and it's hard to adjust.
A prolonged 1,200 calorie-per-day diet can slow metabolism, so it is best to only do it short-term. There are risks to consuming too few calories, including: Not getting adequate nutrition.
There are also different tiers of anorexia based on BMI ranging from mild (<17.5), moderate (16-16.99), and severe (15-15.99), to extreme (<15). A BMI below 13.5 can lead to organ failure, while a BMI below 12 can be life-threatening.
Weight restoration following a restrictive eating disorder may take months depending on how sick the individual is. This process often requires an individual to drastically increase their caloric intake in order to gain weight at a safe and steady rate.
Traditionally, individuals had to be below 85% of their ideal body weight to receive a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, a disorder characterized by restrictive eating, over-exercising, distorted body image and intense fear of weight gain.
Eating disorders damage nearly every system in the body, but people living with even the most extreme forms of anorexia or bulimia can recover with treatment.
Brain Recovery After Anorexia
Parents of patients with anorexia report a range of time, from six months to two-plus years for full “brain healing” to occur.
The good news is that these structural changes can be reversed. Research has shown that, on average, 43 percent of lost grey matter is regained after 4 months of weight restoration from AN, with most white matter restored during this time. Brain matter increases have also been found in people recovered from BN.
Compounding the “feeling fat” experience is a condition called delayed gastric emptying that is very common in anorexia. With prolonged food restriction (as in anorexia), there's a decrease in function of the muscles that line the stomach, so food is pushed through the stomach to the small intestines at a slower pace.
Hormones
A shift in your hormones can put the brakes on your body's energy use. That can make you tired. Some conditions, like an underactive or overactive thyroid and diabetes, are hormonal diseases that affect your metabolism. Stress also releases hormones that can trigger a slow-down.
A normal BMI for an adult is 18.5-25. Above that you are overweight and below that you are underweight. Adults with anorexia have a BMI below 17.5. If you are under 18 years of age, normal weight is assessed by using special age-related BMI charts.