At Change Creates Change, we often say that eating disorders start as a mental health concern and can quickly progress to a physical health concern. Starvation syndrome is one of the physical complications that can occur from an eating disorder.
If you are a parent or loved one with a child affected by an eating disorder, you are already aware of the dangers that accompany eating disorders. But, what should you be on the lookout for? Let’s highlight the Top 3 Signs of Starvation Syndrome so that you can detect if your child is living with starvation syndrome.
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Who is Affected By Starvation Syndrome?
Starvation syndrome can affect folks of all body shapes and weights after prolonged periods of starvation. It does not discriminate against eating disorder diagnosis. If your child has been restricting their body of energy (food) or engaging in purging behaviours, they may be at risk for starvation syndrome.
Starvation Syndrome affects the body both physically and psychologically. However, the most common indicators of starvation that we see are psychological.
What Are The Common Signs of Starvation Syndrome?
1) Poor Concentration
Starvation affects how we think, feel, and how we interact with the world around us. When our body is not getting the fuel that it needs, there are changes within the brain. We call this the starving brain.
One of the most common symptoms of this is changes in our thinking. This shows up as impaired concentration, judgement, and decision-making. As someone on the outside of the eating disorder, poor concentration is the most noticeable change in thinking. You may notice that your child cannot focus, has a hard time engaging in conversation, or does not seem interested in the tasks they used to enjoy.
2) Obsessive Thoughts About Food
When our brain does not get the fuel that it needs to function, it sends one primary thought out – food. You may notice that your child seems consumed by thoughts about food.
You also may notice other ways that this obsession manifests. These include:
- Carefully and thoroughly planning meals, snacks
- Talking about food more often
- Compulsively watching recipe or food content on social media
- Hoarding recipes
- Eating very fast or very slow
3) Dizziness, Lightheadedness
A starved body is one that is not getting enough fuel from food. When this happens over a period of time, there are physical changes in the body. One of the most common complaints we hear from parents in our practice is that their child gets very dizzy or lightheaded when they stand up.
The medical term for this is Orthostatic Hypotension (OH). OH is a change in your blood pressure when one goes from a seated position to standing. Specifically, it is a change in 20 mmHg of systolic blood pressure, or a 10 mmHg change in diastolic blood pressure.
OH can be caused by dehydration or malnutrition – both of which are common in eating disorder recovery. In folks living with an eating disorder, OH is most frequently caused by dehydration.
What Should I Do If I Think My Child Has Starvation Syndrome?
If you believe your child or loved one is living with an eating disorder and may be experiencing starvation, the first step is to get help. You’re already doing that by being here. When the body is deprived of energy, or malnourished, for a period of time, the refeeding process is complex and unique.
The refeeding process is the slow, steady reintroduction of calories. It is a process that should be monitored closely by a team of healthcare professionals who specialize in eating disorder care. If the process is rushed, there is a risk of developing refeeding syndrome.
At Change Creates Change Eating Disorder Care, we specialize in empowering parents and caregivers with children affected by eating disorders. We offer best practice care without the wait times. Want to learn more about how we can help your family? Book a free 15-minute consultation call with us.
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