IMPACT ON THE BODY
BRAIN
Eating disorders can physically change brain chemistry and increase obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression. Eating disorders affect brain function by activating the brain's reward mechanism. Starvation may shrink brain matter over time.
When you are able to restrict your eating, you kind of feel a bit powerful, like you’re able to have that kind of self-control and willpower that other people don’t.
-Eisha Marjara Award Winning filmmaker
THE HEART
The heart is one of the most vulnerable organs affected by eating disorders. When the body is deprived of nutrients, the heart muscle weakens, causing low blood pressure, dizziness and dangerously slow heart rates. In severe cases, patients may develop irregular heart rhythms that can lead to cardiac arrest.
changes in rhythm can be fatal.
-Elizabeth Weaver registered physician
Immune System
Eating disorders weaken the immune system by depriving the body of the nutrients needed to produce healthy white blood cells. As starvation progresses, the body becomes less capable of fighting infections, illnesses and inflammation
I commonly see are a drop in the white blood cell count, so a sign that the immune system is not working well enough
-Elizabeth Weaver registered physician
Muscles
Without enough nutrition, the body begins breaking down muscle tissue for energy, leading to weakness, exhaustion and loss of physical endurance.
if you're an athlete, often you're not able to exercise [during treatment].
-Carol ann forrest school psychologist
IMPACT ON THE BODY
Julius Li
Created on May 17, 2026
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Transcript
IMPACT ON THE BODY
BRAIN
Eating disorders can physically change brain chemistry and increase obsessive thoughts, anxiety and depression. Eating disorders affect brain function by activating the brain's reward mechanism. Starvation may shrink brain matter over time.
When you are able to restrict your eating, you kind of feel a bit powerful, like you’re able to have that kind of self-control and willpower that other people don’t.
-Eisha Marjara Award Winning filmmaker
THE HEART
The heart is one of the most vulnerable organs affected by eating disorders. When the body is deprived of nutrients, the heart muscle weakens, causing low blood pressure, dizziness and dangerously slow heart rates. In severe cases, patients may develop irregular heart rhythms that can lead to cardiac arrest.
changes in rhythm can be fatal.
-Elizabeth Weaver registered physician
Immune System
Eating disorders weaken the immune system by depriving the body of the nutrients needed to produce healthy white blood cells. As starvation progresses, the body becomes less capable of fighting infections, illnesses and inflammation
I commonly see are a drop in the white blood cell count, so a sign that the immune system is not working well enough
-Elizabeth Weaver registered physician
Muscles
Without enough nutrition, the body begins breaking down muscle tissue for energy, leading to weakness, exhaustion and loss of physical endurance.
if you're an athlete, often you're not able to exercise [during treatment].
-Carol ann forrest school psychologist