Anorexia has a high mortality rate (20% eventually die of the consequences of the disease) and one in five will at least attempt suicide. Sadly, anorexia nervosa currently has no definitive treatment.
Anorexia Can Increase the Risk of Suicide or Death
Without treatment, up to 20 percent of all eating disorder cases result in death.
As many as 20 percent of the people who suffer from anorexia will eventually die from it. And the longer a person suffers from anorexia, the greater their risk of dying becomes.
Without treatment, up to 20 percent of individuals with a severe eating disorder will die, and with treatment, the mortality rate drastically falls to 2-3 percent. Among those who struggle with anorexia, 1 in 5 deaths are by suicide.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a common eating disorder with the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric diseases.
Suicide. On average, people with anorexia are 18 times more likely to die by suicide and people with bulimia are seven times more likely.
While any mental health disorder can pose significant health challenges, eating disorders are currently the most deadly category of mental health conditions. Any mental health disorder can present risk factors across the duration of a person's life.
Anorexia has a high mortality rate (20% eventually die of the consequences of the disease) and one in five will at least attempt suicide.
If a person with anorexia becomes severely malnourished, every organ in the body can be damaged, including the brain, heart and kidneys. This damage may not be fully reversible, even when the anorexia is under control.
After 3 years, anorexia becomes more difficult to treat, and symptoms may become more serious. That's why early treatment is an important first step. Chronic anorexia is not part of an initial diagnosis. Over time, physicians may change their care approach if they believe anorexia is treatment-resistant.
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.
In an older person, the risks are even greater. Anorexia takes a huge toll on every system in the body. In an elderly person, the body is much less resilient in the first place due to the natural process of aging, and therefore, an eating disorder could cause more serious damage and more rapidly.
Parts of the brain undergo structural changes and abnormal activity during anorexic states. Reduced heart rate, which could deprive the brain of oxygen. Nerve-related conditions including seizures, disordered thinking, and numbness or odd nerve sensations in the hands or feet.
Among patients with anorexia nervosa, primary causes of death include suicide and the direct effects of starvation. For bulimia nervosa, the most common causes of death have been automobile accidents and suicide.
The risk for heart failure rises as the heart rate and blood pressure levels sink lower and lower. Reduction of bone density (osteoporosis), which results in dry, brittle bones. Muscle loss and weakness. Severe dehydration, which can result in kidney failure.
The most serious risk of anorexia is death. In fact, about 10% of people with anorexia will die because of their eating disorder [2]. Like we said, anorexia is one of the deadliest mental illnesses. People with anorexia who have died tend to pass away due to starvation, heart problems, or suicide [2].
If you have anorexia, it's understandable if you don't know how to get better. You might not be eating enough food because you hope you'll become perfect if you lose weight. But starving yourself can make you very sick. Anorexia is not something you can overcome easily or on your own, always seek professional help.
While many different types of people may have anorexia nervosa, approximately 90% of those afflicted are women. Most individuals with the disorder develop it in late adolescence or early adulthood, though onset may occur earlier or later.
In 1689, English physician Richard Morton described two cases of “nervous consumption” —one in a boy and one in a girl. These are considered the earliest modern cases of the illness we now know as anorexia nervosa.
Marked loss of bone mineral density occurs, which can lead to early osteopenia and osteoporosis, even in adolescent patients, and this loss may be permanent.
For AN, severity is determined by weight status: mild (BMI ≥ 17), moderate (BMI: 16–16.99), severe (BMI: 15–15.99), and extreme (BMI < 15).
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation and weight loss resulting in low weight for height and age. Anorexia has the highest mortality of any psychiatric diagnosis other than opioid use disorder and can be a very serious condition.