Medical Complications in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa

Medical complications of the two eating disorders anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) result from weight regulation measures such as self-induced vomiting or the abuse of laxatives and diuretics, as well as the massive underweight present in patients with AN. Furthermore, complications that can occur during the early weight gain of severely cachectic patients (BMI < 14 kg/m2) pose a medical problem (refeeding syndrome). Serious medical complications resulting in death are more common in patients with AN than in those with BN.