Eating Disorders and Suicide

@ Remuda Ranch

Eating disorders are physically devastating diseases. The medical consequences of anorexia and bulimia include everything from anemia and bone loss to intestinal issues and infertility. The good news is that if caught early and treated, most of these medical problems can be reversed and health can be restored. However, what cannot be resolved is the high mortality rate associated with these disorders. A full 10% of those struggling with an eating disorder will die from it. These deaths often occur as a result of cardiac damage or other extreme medical complications. A lesser known, but profoundly important, cause of death is suicide. Recent research indicates that suicide is a major cause of death among those with anorexia. Although suicide can and does occur in those struggling with bulimia, it is less frequent and more a result of an impulsive act vs. a planned action.

There are many reasons why suicide is so common in the eating disorder population. Perhaps the greatest factor is the prevalence of depression in these individuals. Approximately 90% of those with an eating disorder are also clinically depressed. This is a very dangerous combination. In fact, the incident of suicide in this group is markedly higher than in those who struggle exclusively with depressio....finish article @ http://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/article-eating-disorders-and-suicide-remuda-ranch.html