A Comprehensive Review of Complications and New Findings Associated with Anorexia Nervosa

Leah Puckett; Daniela Grayeb; Vishnupriya Khatri; Kamila Cass; Philip Mehler

doi:10.3390/jcm10122555

A Comprehensive Review of Complications and New Findings Associated with Anorexia Nervosa

J Clin Med. 2021 Jun 9;10(12):2555. doi: 10.3390/jcm10122555.

Authors

Leah Puckett^{1

2}, Daniela Grayeb^{1

2}, Vishnupriya Khatri^{1

2}, Kamila Cass^{1

2}, Philip Mehler^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders, Denver, CO 80204, USA.
² Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
³ Eating Recovery Center, Denver, CO 80230, USA.

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa is a complex and deadly psychiatric disorder. It is characterized by a significant degree of both co-occurring psychiatric diseases and widespread physiological changes which affect nearly every organ system. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the varied consequences of this disorder. Given the high rate of mortality due to AN, there is a need for early recognition so that patients can be referred for appropriate medical and psychiatric care early in the course of the disorder. In this study, we present a comprehensive review of the recent literature describing medical findings commonly encountered in patients with AN. The varied and overlapping complications of AN affect pregnancy, psychological well-being, as well as bone, endocrine, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa medical complications; eating disorders; medical findings in anorexia nervosa.

Publication types

Review