Untreated anorexia can cause starvation and serious health problems, such as bone thinning (osteoporosis), kidney damage and heart problems. Some people die because of these problems. If you or someone you know has anorexia, get help right away. The longer this problem lasts, the more difficult it will be to overcome it.
The restriction of caloric and nutritional intake caused by anorexia nervosa can have dangerous consequences if left untreated, even to the point of death. Without enough “fuel”, the body's organs, from the brain to the kidneys to the skin. As a result, anorexia nervosa causes more deaths than any other type of mental health disorder. Anorexia, like other eating disorders, gets worse the longer it's left untreated.
The sooner the disorder is diagnosed and treated, the better the prognosis. Anorexia is treatable, allowing a person to regain a healthy weight, but many people with anorexia deny having a problem and refuse treatment. Whether you or a loved one has problems with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or another eating disorder, this condition can have dire physical health consequences if left untreated. If left untreated, the eating disorder anorexia nervosa can wreak havoc on a person's physical, mental, and social health.
If left untreated, an eating disorder can cause a major irregularity in a person's hormonal balance, making them temporarily or permanently infertile. However, if the disorder is left untreated and the body continues to lack essential calories and nutrients for several years, these short-term consequences can cause permanent damage and turn into serious and long-term health problems. As the personal costs of symptoms of untreated eating disorders increase, quality of life begins to plummet, requiring immediate change. However, if anorexia is left untreated for too long, damage to the reproductive system may be permanent and you may never recover your menstrual cycle.
