Eating disorders, which include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating without purging the food, have become increasingly common with the constant change of unhealthy demands towards female and male bodies popularized through media. While people of both genders and all ages are susceptible to this set of disorders, adolescent girls are considered an especially vulnerable group. According to Goodheart, Clopton., & Robert-McComb (2012), about 14% of adolescent girls have subclinical eating problems, while 30% of teenage girls having anorexia nervosa will continue suffering from this disorder in the course of their entire lives (p. 33). The worst consequence of eating disorders is a person’s death, and anorexia nervosa is known to be the deadliest mental disorder, with death occurring in 4-5% of people suffering from the disorder, and only substance abuse may have possibly higher mortality rates (Lock, 2010). Since the consequences of eating disorders that were experienced during teenage years can be very long-lasting and negatively impact a girl’s future life, the disorder of this group should be diagnosed as soon as possible in order to minimize its effect.
Among the most severe physical consequences of eating disorders is severe malnutrition that usually occurs during anorexia nervosa and leads to the extremely low intake of vital vitamins and minerals. Such malnutrition can easily cause “growth retardation, pubertal delay or arrest, and reduction of peak bone mass” (Treasure, Schmidt, & Furth, 2003, p. 421). One study of 20 women, who suffered from anorexia nervosa before menarche, showed that they were relevantly short, and their pubertal development was incomplete (Treasure, Schmidt, & Furth, 2003, p. 423). The next physical effect anorexia nervosa can have on teenage girls is amenorrhea, or no menstruation. This effect is caused by the lack of enough fat stored in the body for the endocrine system to work properly (Treasure, Schmidt, & Furth, 2003, p. 423). Although this consequence can last for a long time, and one study has even mentioned a woman, whose menarche happened at the age of 25, still this effect can often be reversed if a girl succeeds in restoring body fat (Treasure, Schmidt, & Furth, 2003, p. 423). Another important consequence of malnutrition during anorexia nervosa is bone loss that is usually present during anorexia nervosa. Since 60% of bone accretion happens during adolescence, teenage girls are at risk of developing osteoporosis later in life because of their failure to develop enough bone density in puberty (Treasure, Schmidt, & Furth, 2003, p. 424). Meanwhile, the consequences of bulimia nervosa are just as harmful. Teenage girls suffering from it can develop “hyperkalemia, esophageal tears, gastric disturbances, dehydration, orthostasis, and cardiac arrhythmias,” caused by the lowered levels of potassium in blood (Lock, 2010). These consequences are primarily the result of food purging by vomiting or taking laxatives. Needless to say that constant vomiting can cause severe deterioration of tooth enamel. Binge eating can cause all spectrum of physical problems connected with constant overeating and obesity that is very often the result of unregulated intake of usually junk food.
Psychological and social effects of this group of disorders can vary, but some of them are very common regardless of the specific disorder. Teenage girls suffering from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa can develop severe anxiety and depression, have low self-esteem caused by negative self-perception and distorted view of own body, and problems communicating with other people and family because of social withdrawal and isolation (Lock, 2010). In addition, psychological problems that arise in connection to bulimia nervosa are personality disorders and substance abuse disorders (Lock, 2010).
Since teenage girls are in the process of physical and psychological development, eating disorders usually prevent them from reaching certain psychosocial developmental milestones needed for them turn into fully-functioning adults (“Eating disorders in adolescents,” 1998). Since eating disorders are often misunderstood by people, who never had them, including parents, a girl suffering from it may experience lack of social support and understanding. Since they usually will avoid being judged or even bullied, teenage girls are very likely to develop social isolation and conflicts within family, who might use wrong measures and strategies to help the victim of the disorder (“Eating disorders in adolescents,” 1998). Adolescent girls with an eating disorder will develop distorted self-concept, which is demonstrated in such girls seeing themselves as having excessive weight regardless of their actual weight. Given that such disorders are usually persistent and need much time for treatment and recovery, the long-term psychosocial consequence is the lack of autonomy and impossibility to separate from the family and start own independent life (“Eating disorders in adolescents,” 1998). This is caused by adolescent girls’ dependence on their parents, especially during treatment, and fear of inability to survive without their support. Another long-term effect of eating disorders is the lack of capacity for intimacy, which is caused by other psychological problems, including low self-esteem and inadequate self-perception of one’s individuality and one’s body, as well as incredibly lowered self-worth (“Eating disorders in adolescents,” 1998).
Among cognitive problems experienced by teenage girls with eating disorders is the problem with developing and using formal operational thought processes in application to others and especially to themselves (Rees, 2012). This means that while girls of this age usually develop the ability to think abstractly, creatively and critically and are able to perform high-order reasoning, adolescent girls with eating disorders may be underdeveloped in this area because of their disease. Girls can also misinterpret their usual and absolutely normal feelings in the body as abnormal and invalid (Rees, 2012). Girls can also develop strong dependency on other’s opinion and internalize other’s wrong judgements.
Eating disorders that are prevalent among the younger age group can take a toll on young teenage girls, who are especially vulnerable to this group of disorders. While mortality rate for this disorder is among the highest in all mental disorders, other consequences can be also very severe and long-term. The primary effect of eating disorders is on the physical health of girls, whose bodies may be underdeveloped; their bones may develop insufficient density and, thus, make them very vulnerable to fractures, and their menstruations may occur much later than normal, which is a sign of serious endocrine problems. Among the most common psychosocial problems are anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, distorted self-perception, personality disorders, substance abuse, social withdrawal and isolation, as well as failure to become autonomous. Cognitive problems may include inability to develop formal operational thought processes and inability to interpret body feelings adequately, deeming them invalid and abnormal.
References
Eating disorders in adolescents: Principles of diagnosis and treatment. (1998). Paediatrics & Child Health, 3(3), 189–192.
Goodheart, K., Clopton, J. R., & Robert-McComb, J. J. (2012). Eating disorders in women and children: Prevention, stress management, and treatment (2nd ed.). Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Lock, J. (2010). Treatment of Adolescent Eating Disorders: Progress and Challenges. Minerva Psichiatrica, 51(3), 207–216.
Rees, J. M. (2012). Eating Disorders during Adolescence: Nutritional Problems and Interventions. Retrieved April 23, 2016, from http://staff.washington.edu/jrees/ch1edado.html
Treasure, J., Schmidt, U., & Furth, E. V. (2003). Handbook of eating disorders (2nd ed.). Southern Gate, Chichester: John Wiley&Sons.
