The doctor spoke about the risks of thinness and the dangers of the syndrome of renewed nutrition

The trend towards extreme thinness is gaining popularity again, but too low body weight can lead to serious disorders in the body. The danger arises not only during severe dietary restrictions, but also when trying to abruptly return to a normal diet. Evgeny Kosmynin, an Invitro internist, told Izvestia about this on September 4.

According to the expert, a pronounced deficiency of body weight in medicine is considered as exhaustion. With a prolonged lack of energy, the body stops using only fat reserves and begins to use its own tissues, primarily muscles.

"One of the most dangerous consequences of extreme thinness is disruption of the cardiovascular system. With exhaustion, the mass of the heart muscle may decrease, the pulse rate may decrease, and a deficiency of potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus can provoke dangerous rhythm disturbances," Kosmynin said.

In addition, lack of nutrition affects the condition of bones. According to the doctor, with prolonged energy deficiency, bone mineral density decreases, which is why osteoporosis can be detected even in young people.

Exhaustion also affects the hormonal system. Menstruation may stop in women, and testosterone levels decrease in men. Additionally, anemia, weakened immunity, and deficiency of important substances, including iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and zinc, occur.

A sharp exit from a state of exhaustion is particularly dangerous. According to Kosmynin, the syndrome of renewed nutrition develops precisely after a person starts eating normally again after a long period of restrictions. When there is a lack of food, the body gradually consumes internal reserves of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and vitamin B1. At the same time, the indicators in blood tests may remain close to normal, since the deficiency is hidden inside the cells.

After the return of proper nutrition, especially with a large amount of carbohydrates, insulin levels rise sharply. The cells begin to actively absorb glucose and with it take away the necessary minerals from the blood. As a result, a rapid decrease in phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium levels can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, acute heart failure, pulmonary edema, respiratory disorders, seizures, confusion, and damage to the nervous system. According to the expert, this condition most often develops in the first few days after the start of a full diet and in severe cases can lead to death.

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The doctor noted that weight loss is not always associated with deliberate dietary restriction. Sometimes the cause is diseases that require diagnosis.

"The unintentional loss of more than 5% of body weight in 6-12 months while maintaining the usual diet is a reason to consult a specialist. This condition may be associated with thyroid disorders, newly diagnosed diabetes, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, chronic infections, cancer, or depression," Kosmynin said.

The reason for contacting a doctor is also the cessation of menstruation, constant weakness, shivering, fainting, heart failure, frequent infections and fractures with little exertion.

An equally important sign may be changes in attitudes towards food and one's own body. Constant thoughts about nutrition and body shape, guilt after eating, and reticence about nutrition can indicate eating disorders. According to Kosmynin, such conditions require an integrated approach involving a therapist, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist or psychotherapist and a nutritionist.

The expert stressed that health cannot be assessed solely by the number on the scales. Performance, a stable pulse rate, normal test results, bone health and a calm attitude to nutrition remain important indicators.

On August 28, endocrinologist, nutritionist Elena Likhanova and internist, gastroenterologist, and general practitioner Maxim Maskin told us how bread and bread rolls differ and which options are better to choose when controlling weight. Maskin noted that only certain types of bread can be considered dietary, for example, made from whole grain flour or extrusion versions. At the same time, products made from premium flour with added sugar, fats and salt may be similar in composition to ordinary bread.