The long term affects of anorexia

I was debating about writing this because it’s quite personal but its made me realise just how much eating disorders can affects you in so many different ways. Even if you’re recovering/recovered. The body isn’t stupid and repair can take years. I’m technically a healthy weight therefore I assumed my body would be on board with this but it’s not always that simple, and this blog post is about an affect that is quite specific to what’s going on right now.

What I’m going to write may be considered gross/personal/too much info whatever so if you don’t like the though of reading about how eating disorders can affect your downstairs area then probably best not to read on!!!


Quite a comment effect of anorexia is weakening of the bones. Many people including myself have osteopenia which luckily can be reversed if a healthy weight is maintained and there is plenty of calcium in your diet. Unfortunately if the bones continue to weaken it can develop into osteoporosis which quite a lot of people that have had anorexia have. Your bones continue to weaken which can be seen in older people, but if you have it early, your bones will start to break down/get weaker at an earlier age which is really sad.

Another consequence of eating disorders is to do with your bowels and this can be due to loads of different reasons. Lack of nutrition impacts on the digestive system and makes it a lot harder to go to the toilet. Also if people have abused laxatives this can also make it a lot more difficult to regulate bowel movements. I struggled with laxative abuse in the past but luckily got weaned off then in hospital and my bowel habits returned to normal.

However, what I didn’t quite realise is the fact that bowel problems don’t just go away overnight and can continue even if you’re recovering/recovered. Up until recently I started to have issues with my bowels and found out that it had prolapsed. I went to the doctors about this but they told me it’s nothing to worry about because ‘people my age don’t get them’ so I basically took her word for it and believed it wasn’t a prolapse. Prolapses are basically when the muscles around  your stomach/down below get weakened and your rectum turns inside out and protrudes outside. (Lovely!). These are common with old age or if you’ve give birth it can happen too.

Mine started getting worse and basically the lump coming out started getting bigger. Then suddenly I noticed the same thing had happened to my vagina - which is not a pretty sigh at all!!. I went back to the doctors and they confirmed it was a prolapse and I was referred for surgery.

When I saw the consultant last week he told me mine are due to past problems with weight. Apparently when there’s not enough  fat around that area that is a risk factor, and your muscles get weaker. I couldn’t believe it when he told me this. Because I thought I’m healthy now, so why has this happened? But like I said earlier your body plays catch up and doesn’t just repair overnight.


So now I’m awaiting surgery where they open your stomach and pull everything back up!! And cut some of your bowel out to prevent it happening again.


The reason as to why I’m being open about this is because I want to highlight the long term affects of anorexia - and how these affects can follow you even if you are now healthy. I just find it crazy how the body works and how weight can impact your body in so many different ways. Initially I felt this whole surgery thing was like a punishment for having had anorexia. Rationally I know it isn’t and there’s nothing I can do to change it - I just have to deal with it.