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Gastroparesis and Eating Disorders
Gastroparesis and Eating Disorders
Gastroparesis is a stomach condition that is highly prevalent within the eating disorder community. The term “gastroparesis” directly translates to “stomach paralysis.” This condition acutely affects the normal movement of the stomach muscles. Perhaps you or a loved one suffers from gastroparesis or maybe this is your first introduction to the condition.
Regardless of your baseline understanding, this comprehensive overview aims to expand your awareness, so that you can identify symptoms and recognize the link between gastroparesis and eating disorders.
Gastroparesis is a condition that affects the stomach muscles, causing the rate of muscle contractions to slow down considerably. During the normal digestion process, strong muscles in the walls of the stomach contract to drive food into the small intestine. However, for someone with gastroparesis, the stomach muscles don’t function with their normal strength. This means that food and liquids remain in the stomach for long periods of time, holding up the entire digestion process.
Gastroparesis is underdiagnosed, so its prevalence can only be estimated. Recent studies suggest that it affects roughly 5 million people in the United States. Those who have eating disorders characterized by food avoidance or restriction, such as anorexia, bulimia and ARFID, are known to experience gastroparesis at higher rates than the general population.
Other high-risk populations include (Cedars Sinai):
- Those with Type 1 or 2 diabetes.
- Those with nervous system disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
- Those who have had surgery on their stomach or small intestine and thus are more at-risk for damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach and intestine muscles.
- Those who have had certain cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, on their chest or stomach area.
- Those who take medicines that may slow movement in the intestine, such as narcotics for chronic pain.
Gastroparesis is extremely common in those who have restricted their food intake. In fact, it is one of the most common physical symptoms of a restrictive eating disorder. When someone is restricting food for a long period of time, the lack of essential nutrients can cause the entire body to lag in an attempt to conserve energy. Just as the heart rate, blood flow, and brain functioning all slow during nutritional deprivation, so do the contractions of the stomach and intestines, contributing to gastroparesis.
The symptoms of gastroparesis may be particularly worrying in the eating disorder setting. For those with an eating disorder, specifically those who have body image concerns that focus on their appearance, a distended and bloated stomach can be stress-inducing. What’s more, someone in recovery who is learning to listen and trust their body’s hunger cues may find that particularly difficult when dealing with stomach pain and early fullness.
Treatment for gastroparesis in an eating disorder setting begins with treating what is often the underlying condition: the eating disorder. A person experiencing gastroparesis alongside an eating disorder should seek treatment from a team familiar with both conditions.
To access the full article and more information on gastroparesis and eating disorders, click here.
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