Medical consequences of eating disorders

The Follow-Up of Eating Disorders from Adolescence to Early Adulthood: A Systematic Review

Eating disorders (EDs) are common among children and adolescents and are characterized by excessive concerns for physical appearance, distorted body image, and fear of gaining weight. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the follow-up of EDs from adolescence to adulthood, analyzing persistence, relapses, and associated comorbidities. We searched scientific articles in PubMed, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Embase through two research strings, one for quantitative outcomes (recovery/persistence, relapse, and remission) and one for the other outcomes (psychiatric and medical comorbidities, substance use, and social-relational complications). From a total of 8043 retrieved articles, we selected 503 papers after exclusion of duplicates and title/abstract screening. After a full-text evaluation, we included 16 studies eligible for this review. We performed a meta-analysis describing the quantitative results, and we created a narrative synthesis for the qualitative outcomes. Results: Our results confirm that EDs can persist in early adulthood in 40.7% of cases with a relapse percentage of 24.5%. Individuals with an ED more frequently present with an empathy deficit and comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders. EDs are chronic and complex disorders, more frequent in females. In most cases, EDs reduce the autonomy of individuals who present many difficulties in affirming their independence from parental family.

Programs on a Diet?: An Examination of Athletic Departments’ Eating Disorder Policies at NCAA Division I Universities

Disordered eating (DE) plays a significant role in the overall health and athletic performance of collegiate athletes. The present study sought to determine how many NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Institutions have a policy that specifically addresses the prevention and management of DE for their participating athletes and to examine the content of the existing policies. The study searched for policies in the 128 FBS institutions through an online web-search and by contacting athletic department personnel. A total of 33 currently existing policies on athletes with eating disorders (EDs) were found, 13 of which were found online. A documentary analysis was then conducted to determine the type of information that policies include. Sixteen major themes were found throughout the analysis, including themes that related to prevention, risk factors, identification, treatment, referral, and return-to-play guidelines.

Sodium and potassium in health and disease

Sodium and potassium are essential for human health. They are important ions in the body and are associated with many physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. The chapter summarizes the basic physiologic actions of sodium and potassium on membranes of the neurologic and muscular systems. It provides information regarding the kinetics, i.e., absorption, distribution, and excretion of these ions and their movement between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. It also explains the physiologic systems that can influence proper homeostasis between sodium and potassium. Concentrations of sodium in the blood that exceed or do not reach the normal value range are called hypernatremia or hyponatremia, respectively. Similarly, the clinicians recognize hyperkalemia and hypokalemia. Pathologies associated with these states are described and examples of some of the diseases are presented here.

Mechanisms of airway protection during retching, vomiting, and swallowing

We investigated the mechanisms of airway protection and bolus transport during retching and vomiting by recording responses of the pharyngeal, laryngeal, and hyoid muscles and comparing them with responses during swallowing and responses of the gastrointestinal tract. Five dogs were chronically instrumented with electrodes on the striated muscles and strain gauges on smooth muscles. Retching and vomiting were stimulated by apomorphine (5-10 ug/kg iv). During retching, the hyoid and thyroid descending and laryngeal abductor muscles were activated; between retches, the hyoid, thyroid, and pharyngeal elevating, and laryngeal adductor muscles were activated. Vomiting always occurred during the ascending phase of retching and consisted of three sequential phases of hyoid and pharyngeal muscle activation culminating in simultaneous activation of all recorded elevating and descending laryngeal, hyoid, and pharyngeal muscles. Retrograde activation of esophagus and pharyngeal muscles occurred during the later phases, and laryngeal adductor was maximally activated in all phases of the vomit. During swallowing, the laryngeal adductor activation was followed immediately by brief activation of the laryngeal abductor. We concluded that retching functions to mix gastric contents with refluxed intestinal secretions and to impart an orad momentum to the bolus before vomiting. During retches, the airway is protected by glottal closure, and between retches, it is protected by ascent of the larynx and closure of the upper esophageal sphincter. The airway is protected by maximum glottal closure during vomiting. During swallowing, the airway is protected by laryngeal elevation and glottal closure followed by brief opening of the glottis, which may release subglottal pressure expelling material from the laryngeal vestibule.

The role of third molar surgery in the exacerbation of eating disorders

PURPOSE

Eating disorders are a major public health problem. This study was undertaken to investigate the role of dental surgery in the etiology and clinical course of these serious and occasionally life-threatening disorders.

METHODS

Three questions concerning dental therapy were included in a pretreatment assessment of 97 consecutive patients entering an eating disorder therapy program during a 22-month period. These questions were designed to determine the influence of dental surgery, including frequency and severity, on eating disorders.

RESULTS

All 97 patients, of which 96 were female, complied with the questionnaire. Seventy-five of 97 were 25 years or younger, and 53 of 97 were diagnosed as having anorexia nervosa. Sixteen patients (16.5%) reported having had orthodontic therapy, and 21 (21.6%) had undergone third molar surgery. Nine patients (9.3%) (1 orthodontic, 8 third molar surgery) indicated that dental procedures had caused exacerbation or relapse of their eating disorders; 8 of 21 (38%) who had undergone third molar surgery were positive respondents. None of the patients linked dental care to the initial onset of their eating disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

These data reveal that dental procedures, specifically third molar surgery, can significantly alter the course of eating disorders, causing exacerbation or relapse. No patient indicated that dental therapy was the primary cause of these multifactorial psychonutritional disorders. A history of eating disorder should alert the practitioner to the risks of performing third molar surgery without a medical or psychotherapy consultation unless there is documentation of remission. Delay of surgical intervention is recommended if third molars are asymptomatic. If surgery is necessary, the surgeon and other members of the psychotherapy team should establish clear guidelines regarding behavior and postoperative nutrition and should monitor the patient's nutritional status.

Physical illness encountered in patients with eating disorders

Careful evaluation for medical illness with a severity rating scale of 276 eating-disorder patients admitted to hospital revealed that patients with anorexia and bulimia were at risk for developing medical complications. Severe cardiovascular complications were most likely to occur in eating-disorder patients who were also diuretic and/or laxative abusers. Forty percent of patients with bulimia had significant medical complications. The findings suggest that a medical work-up should be carefully undertaken in both anorexic and bulimic patients admitted to hospital. A mixed history of severe anorexia nervosa alternating with periods of bulimia was most likely to lead to severe life-threatening illness. Seventy percent of the bulimic patients admitted required some medical treatment. Five percent were considered severely medically ill, while 34% suffered from a significant medical disorder. Ten percent of patients with restrictive anorexia or anorexia alternating with binge/purge required intensive care unit (ICU) placement. Most illnesses requiring medical treatment were unknown to the patient and the patient's physician at the time of admission.