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Alimentation to the Extremes: Which Are the Effects?

Scanning anorexia and overweight

By Stefan Anitei, Science Editor

15th of March 2007, 14:29 GMT

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The overweight is a serious issue in developed countries. But nervous anorexia is also reaching terrific numbers. For example, in Spain, with a

total of 40 million inhabitants, it may affect about 1 million persons!

53 % of the adult population in the developed countries suffer from overweight while 10% of the teenagers follow some diet, mostly without control. But both conditions inflict severe health conditions.

ANOREXIA. It triggers apathy and irritability, in the end even depression. Individuals lie about their food consumption. The hair gets dry and falls. The calcium shortage makes the teeth enamel to deteriorate, which results in frequent caries. The heart turns weak and slow and the blood circulates less. A low heart rate and low arterial pressure correlate to lowered metabolism and body temperature.

The kidneys lose some weight. Vomiting and the use of laxatives provoke losses of sodium, potassium and chlorine. Prolonged hunger induces hormonal changes: estrogen, testosterone and thyroid hormones get low while cortisol - the stress hormone - rises.

In both men and women, the sex drive gets very low. Estrogen and testosterone - which regulate the calcium intake at bone level - lack, provoking osteoporosis (lowered bone mass and more fragile bones).

Liquids accumulate in the skin due to the disappearance of fat under the skin surface. The skin turns thin and loses elasticity.

OVERWEIGHT. These people can experience sleep apnea: difficult breathing can provoke temporary stops during sleep, but also sleepiness during the day and other complications.

Especially in men, fat accumulates inside the abdomen, rising the risk of arterial hypertension, diabetes, high blood cholesterol. Overweight induces osteoarticular alterations. Arthrosis is aggravated, especially in hip, knee and ankle areas and pain appears on the lower back.

Venous insufficiency gets focused on the inferior extremities. Gout appears due to higher level of uric acid. The skin is affected by the abundant sweating; the feet and the ankles get swollen, due to the accumulation of liquid (edemas).

TAGS:

anorexia | overweight | obesity | hormone | calcium

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