Study Reveals Long-Lasting Health Risks of Eating Disorders

Recent research published in BMJ Medicine highlights that the health impacts of eating disorders—such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating—are both complex and enduring. The study reveals that individuals diagnosed with these disorders face significantly heightened risks for serious health conditions, including diabetes, renal and liver failure, fractures, and premature death, particularly within the first year following diagnosis.

The study tracked anonymized medical records from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to hospital episode statistics and mortality data for patients in England over a two-decade span from 1998 to 2018. Researchers analyzed data from 24,709 individuals aged 10 to 44 diagnosed with an eating disorder, matching them for age, sex, and general practitioner practice with up to 20 others without these disorders, totaling 493,001 participants.

Increased Risks Within the First Year

The findings indicate that individuals with eating disorders are six times more likely to develop renal failure and nearly seven times more likely to be diagnosed with liver disease within the first year. The analysis also revealed substantially increased risks for osteoporosis, heart failure, and diabetes, with the risks being three times higher for diabetes and twice as high for heart failure.

The risks do not diminish over time. Five years following diagnosis, the likelihood of renal failure and liver disease remains substantially elevated, with rates still 2.5 to nearly four times higher than expected. Additionally, the study documented alarming statistics regarding mental health. Within a year of being diagnosed, individuals with eating disorders showed a sevenfold increase in the risk of depression and over nine times higher risk of self-harm.

The risk of death from any cause within the first year was more than four times higher for these individuals, with the figure rising to five times for unnatural deaths, including suicide. Even after five years, these risks continued to be significantly elevated, indicating a severe long-term impact.

Call for Enhanced Support and Monitoring

Researchers emphasize the critical need for timely, integrated, multidisciplinary health services and ongoing monitoring to improve outcomes for individuals recovering from eating disorders. They noted that UK rates of these disorders have surged since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, making the need for awareness and support even more pressing.

While the study’s data did not account for the severity of eating disorders, the researchers pointed out the substantial long-term effects and the potential for primary care providers to play an essential role. They recommend a cohesive management approach in both primary and specialist care, advocating for improved support systems for affected individuals.

In a related editorial, Dr. Jennifer Couturier and Ethan Nella from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, highlighted the under-recognition of the consequences of eating disorders despite their prevalence. They argued for more comprehensive education on the recognition and management of these conditions within medical training, underscoring the need for primary care providers to be equipped with the knowledge to identify early warning signs and monitor associated risks.

Their conclusions suggest that a multi-organ system approach is necessary for adequately treating patients with eating disorders, reinforcing the idea that primary care settings are well-positioned for early and ongoing intervention.

This study serves as a significant contribution to understanding the long-term health impacts of eating disorders and underscores the importance of integrated care and support in managing recovery and ongoing health risks.