link b/w anorexia & thyroid problem??
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| Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:31pm |
I am worried about a friend of mine. She lost a lot of weight throughout last school year and my roomates and I suspected she was anorexic b/c she ate pretty much only raw veggies and salads and was very secretive about going to the gym and seemed sheepish when people commented on her weight loss (even when she still looked good.) I'd estimate that she went from 150 lbs. to 90-100 lbs. in about 8 months. Her and her mom always denied that she had any kind of eating disorder and got mad that my roomates and I even suggested it. Now my friend is saying that she has a severely overactive thyroid which has accounted for the weight loss and other health problems she has incurred since losing the weight. She has all the symptoms of a thyroid condition but I still am worried she has an eating problem. She says that her thyroid problem is making it impossible to gain weight.
My question is...does anyone know if there is a link between anorexia and overactive thyroid conditions? Can anorexia cause a thyroid to become overactive?
Thanks for your help!!
Lauren

you seem like a very good, concerned friend.
In my honest opinion, I do not believe there is any link between anorexia and hyperthyroid (overactive thyroid). If I'm incorrect, someone will chime in.
Complications from anorexia and side effects of hyperthyroid are similar. In my opinion, your friend is using an excuse of a severely "overactive thyroid" to mask her eating disorder. If she were being medicated for this "thyroid" condition, she would gain weight. This I know for sure!!! I copied the signs of anorexia from the ivillage eating disorder board. As I noted before, many of these are symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Also, her being "mad" and on the defensive indicates she's hiding something.
Again, you seem like a concerned friend and I hope your friend will soon be able to recognize that.
I couldn't copy a link to the eating disorder board but I suggest you visit there to get more accurate information.
Good luck with this.
ANOREXIA SIGNS:
Drastic weight loss (more that 15% normal body weight)
Feeling "fat" even when visibly too thin
Hiding food to avoid eating it
Amenorrhea
Fatigue
Withdrawal from society
Feelings of nervousness or discomfort around food
Constantly counting every calorie
Irritability
Mood swings
Pale skin
Weakness
Obsession with recipes and food
Insomnia
Obsessed with weighing oneself
Only eating "safe" foods
Loss of sexual desire
Use of laxatives, diuretics and/or diet pills
Vomiting
Fainting spells
Unusal eating habits
Making excuses not to eat
Dehydration
Excessive exercise
Feeling cold all the time
Cold hands and feet
Bloating
Headaches and dizziness
Hairloss
Constipation
Bloating
Lanugo (fine downy hair)
Anemia
Depression
Insomnia
Electrolyte imbalance