How Is The Brain Affected By Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders do more than just damage the body. More research is showing the extent to which they harm the brain. They’re also not just about restricting or choosing not to eat food—they’re deeply rooted in psychological and emotional struggles. Eating disorders can damage many bodily processes and reinforce brain changes. Addressing eating disorders involves understanding how they affect the mind, its chemistry and structure, and how these changes influence behavior. While these effects can be hugely detrimental, especially to young people, intervention at any stage makes a huge difference.
The brain relies on a delicate balance of chemicals called neurotransmitters to regulate emotions, appetite, and mood. For instance, in people with anorexia, reduced food intake leads to decreased serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness. This imbalance can contribute to anxiety, depression, and fuel obsessive thoughts about food and body image.
Structural changes to the brain
Eating disorders deprive the body and brain of the necessary nutrients it needs to function. For example, research indicates that prolonged malnutrition and calorie restriction, which is what happens in disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa, can shrink the brain’s overall size, meaning reductions in both grey and white matter. This shrinkage includes areas responsible for decision-making and self-control. These changes can actually perpetuate the cycle of disordered eating behaviors, making it harder for people to reach out and ask for help.
Effects on brain chemistry
The brain relies on a delicate balance of chemicals called neurotransmitters to regulate emotions, appetite, and mood. For instance, in people with anorexia, reduced food intake leads to decreased serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being and happiness. This imbalance can contribute to anxiety, depression, and fuel obsessive thoughts about food and body image. The brain’s reward system, which is primarily regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine, also plays a role in the cycle of disordered eating. For those with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, the act of binge eating can trigger a surge of dopamine, which provides temporary relief from their stress. This dopamine release reinforces the association between binge eating and feeling better, making it challenging to break the cycle of compulsive eating behaviors.
What this does to the brain’s functioning
Brain function refers to how the brain works to process memories, thoughts, decision-making, and senses. People struggling with an eating disorder may experience difficulties with memory and concentration. Making decisions and setting priorities can require more effort than normal. The constant mental preoccupation with food and body shape can consume so much mental energy that it affects other areas of their lives, such as academic or professional performance and social interactions. It can also contribute to mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. These can also compound when someone isolates themselves due to obsessive behaviors around food and eating, leading to lowered self-esteem.
Other body processes controlled by the brain
Other areas of the body controlled by neurological processes and muscle contractions can also be negatively affected by eating disorders. For example, when someone is in an anorexic state, they have a reduced heart rate and hypotension due to their parasympathetic nervous system attempting to conserve its low energy. This also reduces oxygen to the brain. Nerve problems can manifest as seizures, tingling or numbness in the extremities, and other sensations.
Getting help for an eating disorder
If you or someone you love is struggling with an eating disorder, getting help is the priority. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate among mental health issues. An eating disorder’s effects on the brain and body can sometimes be irreversible, so seeking treatment early is crucial. Talk to medical and mental professionals to develop a personalized treatment plan. This might involve therapy, medication, and medical supervision. With the right approach, overcoming an eating disorder is possible.
To find out more about how eating disorder therapy can help, please reach out to us.
