Nutritional rehabilitation and weight restoration are key underpinnings of the treatment protocol for patients with anorexia nervosa. While their inherent state of malnutrition and weight loss is certainly not a healthy one, ironically, the very essence of the refeeding process, if done injudiciously, can also be unsafe for patients with anorexia nervosa. In this article we will provide a review of the major complications that may arise during refeeding, how best to avoid them, and how to treat them.

ABSTRACT: Inherent to anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are a plethora of medical complications which correlate with the severity of weight loss or the frequency and mode of purging. Yet, the encouraging fact is that most of these medical complications are treatable and reversible with definitive care and cessation of the eating-disordered behaviors. Herein, these treatments are described for both the medical complications of anorexia nervosa and those which are a result of bulimia nervosa.

As with anorexia nervosa, there are many medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa. In bulimia nervosa, these complications are a direct result of both the mode and the frequency of purging behaviors. For the purposes of this article, we will review in detail the many complications of the two major modes of purging, namely, self-induced vomiting and laxative abuse; these two account for more than 90% of purging behaviors in bulimia nervosa.

ABSTRACT: Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality of any psychiatric illness. Yet, these patients are often young and have many productive years yet to live. Weight restoration and nutritional rehabilitation, along with psychotherapy, are at the core of a successful treatment plan along with avoiding medical complications during the early periods of refeeding.

ABSTRACT: As with anorexia nervosa, there are many medical complications associated with bulimia nervosa. In bulimia nervosa, these complications are a direct result of both the mode and the frequency of purging behaviors.

ABSTRACT: In contrast to other mental health disorders, eating disorders have a high prevalence of concomitant medical complications. Specifically, patients suffering from anorexia nervosa (AN) have a litany of medical complications which are commonly present as part of their eating disorders.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The clinical presentation and medical complications of severe anorexia nervosa among males were examined to further the understanding of this increasingly prevalent condition. Fourteen males were admitted to a medical stabilization unit over the study period.

ABSTRACT: Eating disorders are one of the “great masqueraders” of the twenty-first century. Seemingly healthy young men and women with underlying eating disorders present to emergency departments with a myriad of complaints that are not unique to patients with eating disorders.