Eating disorders are associated with nutritional abnormalities which can contribute to cognitive difficulties such as
poor judgment, memory loss, and other psychiatric conditions.
Anorexics tend to have low body weight, low body mass index (BMI), and low serum albumin (the main protein
in blood) levels, and are at increased risk for vitamin and mineral deficiency. Those with other types of
eating disorders, such as bulimia and binge eating disorders, also tend to be nutrient deficient.
These deficiencies can often be corrected with the appropriate dietary interventions. Testing for specific
nutrient deficiencies is highly advisable. While vitamin and mineral supplements may be helpful, people recovering
from an eating order need to eat a variety of whole foods.
The Anxiety Link
Eating disorders frequently co-occur with anxiety disorders and both have a strong genetic component.
The same foods that can aggravate anxiety disorders may be problematic for someone with an eating disorder.
A 2008 study at Princeton University discovered that bingeing on sugar may activate neural pathways in a
manner similar to taking drugs of abuse, resulting in related signs of dependence. The researchers concluded
that sugar increased anxiety, binging behavior, and dependence, reinforcing the idea that sugar and other foods
can be addictive.
The Depression Link
Eating disorders are frequently associated with depression. Studies have shown that when people don't have
enough to eat they are much more likely to experience dysthymia (a type of long-term depression), to have thoughts
about death, to want to die, and to have attempted suicide. A study involving 724 single, low-income women found
that those who didn't have sufficient food were more likely to have major depression.
Once someone who has been restricting calories has been motivated to eat, refeeding can be more difficult in
those with depression. When individuals who are depressed have a change in diet it can cause tryptophan levels
to decrease, which increases depression. Tryptophan is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body and in
many high protein foods.
