Reproductive health outcomes in eating disorders

Abstract

Reproductive health outcomes are compromised in women with a history of eating disorders across all eating disorder types. Our findings emphasize the importance of reproductive health counseling and monitoring among women with eating disorders.

The interaction of fasting, caloric restriction, and diet-induced obesity with 17β-estradiol on the expression of KNDy neuropeptides and their receptors in the female mouse

“…For example, hypogonadism secondary to obesity is common, with bariatric surgery correcting a significant percentage of infertility (Calderon et al, 2015, Milone et al, 2015). Similarly, patients with eating disorders have increased spontaneous abortions and miscarriages (Linna et al, 2013). In the present study using a mouse model, we show that there are disruptions in KNDy neuropeptide gene expression, both in the ARC and in Tac2 neuronal pools, and in KNDy receptor gene expression in the ARC by negative (anorexia) and positive (obesity) energy balance.…”

Eating Disorders and Breast Cancer

“…While delayed child-bearing and nulliparity would increase breast cancer risk among those with a history of eating disorders (3, 8, 16), many of the other potential health consequences or correlates, such as high physical activity levels (35, 36), infertility (9, 10, 19), delayed menarche or secondary amenorrhea (2, 5-7, 18), having infants with low birth weight (11-15, 21, 23), and low BMI (1, 20, 32), could result in reductions in breast cancer risk. The latter is supported by the evidence that the associations between ever or past eating disorders and incident breast cancer were attenuated when we adjusted for BMI.…”

“…In addition to being associated with adverse mental health outcomes (1-4), eating disorders can have long-lasting effects on overall and reproductive health through a variety of mechanisms, including low body mass index (BMI) (1), altered menstrual function (2, 5-7), delayed child-bearing or infertility (3, 8-10), and pregnancy complications (11-15). Many of these long-term health consequences are themselves considered established risk factors for breast cancer (16-23).…”

Siege of Leningrad Survivors Phenotyping and Biospecimen Collection

“…Our findings in siege survivors emphasizes the importance of reproductive health counseling and monitoring for women with eating disorders. 21 While much information related to cardiovascular and metabolic consequences caused by famine was accumulated in these studies as well as others, further investigations are essential to discover the underlying mechanisms. The siege of Leningrad represents one of the major examples of studies addressing famine consequences.…”