Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a mental illness which is associated with many different medical complications. A comprehensive medical literature review of the medical complications of AN was undertaken using relevant search terms on PubMed to prepare this manuscript. We demonstrate that every body system is adversely affected by the ravages of AN. As the body mass index becomes progressively lower, the number and acuity of these medical complications increase. No body system is ultimately immune to medical complications, which most commonly impact the cardiac, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. AN has the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness. About half of the excess mortality risk associated with AN is due to the medical complications which are inextricably tied to AN. Nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration attenuate and reverse the long-term medical complications.