Increased Risk of Autoimmune Issues in Individuals with Eating Disorders

A recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that certain eating disorders can increase the risk of autoimmune health issues.

Researchers found that eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia can increase an individual's risk of developing certain somatic illnesses such as type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Certain autoimmune health issues like these can further boost the risk anxiety, depression and even schizophrenia in some individuals.

"We found that of patients with eating disorders, 8.9% had been diagnosed with one or more autoimmune diseases. Of the control individuals, the number was 5.4%," lead study author Dr. Anu Raevuori from the University of Helsinki, in a news release. 

For the study that involved 2,342 people with eating disorders and 9,368 healthy matched controls, findings revealed that about 9 percent of patients with eating disorders were diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. However, only about 5 percent of those without the health issue were.

Study findings showed that a boost in endocrinoological diseases may explain an increase in such issues as type 1 diabetes, Crohn's disease and many cases of gastroenterological health issues. Furthermore, endocrinological issues were not the only autoimmune disease that people with eating disorders were at an increased risk for.

"Our findings support the link between immune-mediated mechanisms and development of eating disorders. Future studies are needed to explore the risk of autoimmune diseases and immunological mechanisms in individuals with eating disorders and their family members," Dr. Raevuori concluded.