The Effects of Being Malnourished
Maintaining a body weight that is below your natural set point can have severe consequences on your physical, psychological, and social well-being. Malnourishment affects the function and recovery of every organ system in your body. Understanding these effects is important as they can result in long-term damage; but nearly all these effects can remediate through eating disorder therapy once you restore weight and meet your body's caloric and nutritional needs.
Psychological Effects
One of the most insidious consequences of being below your set point and/or malnourished is its impact on your mind. When your body is deprived of the nutrients it needs, your brain's ability to function optimally is compromised. This can lead to:
Obsessive thoughts about food:
Constant hunger or inadequate nutrition can make you think about food and eating all the time, making it hard to focus on anything else.
Rigidity and Inflexibility:
You may feel compelled to stick to strict routines or rituals, which can be a way of coping with the anxiety and uncertainty that malnutrition can cause. There is often a heightened need for control and predictability, leading to a lack of spontaneity and difficulty adapting to change.
Decision-making difficulties:
Our brains require a lot of energy (i.e., calories) to function properly. Malnutrition can impair cognitive function, making it harder to make decisions, solve problems, or think creatively.
Social withdrawal:
You might find yourself avoiding social situations, not just because of the physical exhaustion but also due to a diminished interest in social interactions, which can be fueled by both physical and psychological distress.
Concentration issues:
It becomes difficult to concentrate or focus, which can impact your performance at work, school, or other activities.
Social Effects
Being underweight or malnourished doesn’t just affect you—it can also strain your relationships and social life:
Isolation:
Social gatherings often involve food, which can become a source of anxiety or stress. This might lead to avoiding these situations altogether. Additionally, the heightened need for routine and predictability might lead to further social withdrawal as there is little room for unpredictability.
Misunderstandings:
Loved ones may not understand why you are withdrawing or why your behavior has changed, leading to feelings of loneliness or being misunderstood.
Reduced social energy:
The physical toll of malnutrition can leave you with little energy for social interactions, further deepening the isolation.
Physical Effects
The physical effects of being underweight or malnourished are wide-ranging and can affect nearly every system in your body:
Cardiovascular issues:
Your heart is a muscle, and like all muscles, it can weaken if not properly nourished, leading to lower blood pressure, slow heart rate, and even heart failure in severe cases.
Bone density loss:
Without adequate nutrition, your bones can become brittle and more prone to fractures or osteoporosis.
Gastrointestinal problems:
Malnutrition can lead to digestive issues, such as constipation, bloating, and nausea, which may further complicate your relationship with food.
Hormonal imbalances:
For women, this might mean a loss of menstrual periods (amenorrhea), while both men and women can experience reduced libido and fertility issues.
Weakened immune system:
Without the necessary nutrients, your body is less equipped to fight off infections, making you more susceptible to illnesses.
Fatigue and weakness:
Malnutrition can drain your energy levels, leaving you feeling constantly tired and physically weak, which can perpetuate the cycle of inactivity and further malnutrition. This tends to be most obvious when walking up stairs or trying to stand up from a sitting position.
Poor temperature regulation:
Body temperature tends to decrease, making you feel constantly cold.
Breaking the Cycle
It’s important to recognize that many of the effects of being underweight or malnourished can keep you stuck in a disordered eating cycle. The obsession with food, the rigid routines, and the social withdrawal are not just symptoms—they can also be contributing factors that make eating disorder recovery more difficult.
Recognizing these patterns and seeking help can be the first step toward breaking free from the cycle.