Excessive dieting can easily lead to "anorexia nervosa," a condition more common among young women.
Typical diagnostic criteria include: (1) Body weight 15% below the standard for age and height, or a 25% reduction from previous weight; (2) Obsessive pursuit of thinness through deliberate dietary restriction, even at the cost of hunger; (3) Amenorrhea lasting over three months in females;(4) Symptoms like bradycardia and vomiting; (5) Absence of other physical illnesses or conditions like schizophrenia; (6) Onset between ages 10 and 30. Actresses, ballet dancers, and fashion models all pursue extreme thinness. In these professions, the incidence of anorexia nervosa is 3-4 times higher than in the general population of the same age.
Harm 2
Frequent constipation leading to laxative dependency
During weight loss, she eats less than a cat. Due to minimal food intake, she experiences constipation, defecating only every two or three days with significant difficulty each time. Consequently, she relies on laxatives to relieve bowel movements.Taking laxatives causes diarrhea, but stopping them leads back to constipation—a vicious cycle that disrupts intestinal function.
Experts note that constipation caused by overly refined, finely processed, or insufficient food intake—which reduces intestinal stimulation and weakens reflex peristalsis—can be corrected by consuming more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Laxatives should not be used as a quick fix. Only in rare cases where the cause of constipation cannot be identified or where symptomatic treatment is truly necessary should laxatives be used cautiously for short-term relief.It's important to understand that continuous laxative use can lead to dependency. Prolonged use damages nerve cells in the intestinal wall, causing them to degenerate and resulting in localized colonic laxity, which actually worsens constipation.
Harm 3
Malnutrition and Impaired Immunity
Individuals on prolonged diets often experience nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or even fainting due to hypoglycemia. Their skin becomes dry, pale, and loses elasticity, with thin subcutaneous fat, resulting in a "skin-and-bones" appearance. Impaired immunity makes them highly susceptible to infections; a single bout of cold or fever can be life-threatening for the malnourished.Simultaneously, severe malnutrition often triggers emotional instability, anxiety, insomnia, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Some may develop secondary depression, with severe cases exhibiting suicidal thoughts or behaviors.
Harm 4
Reduced menstruation or amenorrhea, premature ovarian failure
After a year of dieting, menstrual flow diminishes progressively, eventually leading to amenorrhea. Gynecological clinics frequently encounter young women experiencing amenorrhea due to weight loss.Excessive dieting drastically reduces body fat. When fat levels drop too low, estrogen synthesis becomes insufficient. This estrogen deficiency disrupts menstrual cycles and suppresses ovarian ovulation, often leading to premature ovarian failure. Eggs fail to mature, ultimately causing amenorrhea and regression of secondary sexual characteristics (smaller breasts, sparse body hair).
Additionally, improper use of weight-loss medications, such as the abuse of drugs like phentermine, can also cause severe menstrual irregularities.