Fatal lack of protein and essential fats

The death of Ana Carolina Reston illustrates the dangers of anorexia. She was a 5ft 7in Brazilian model who had worked for Giorgio Armani died aged 21 weighing six stone after eating a diet of tomatoes and apples

Anorexia has an appreciable death rate — up to 10 per cent — and even in patients who don’t die many are permanently damaged. Ana Reston also suffered from bulimia, a much more common complication of anorexia over the past 10 to 15 years. It increases the danger of serious metabolic disorders as the recurrent vomiting alters the body’s electrolytes and biochemical balance. It is also very bad for the teeth, destroying the enamel.

Although Ms Reston was still six stone she was tall. In her case renal failure was her cause of death. The kidneys, and other vital organs, need at least 800 calories a day to function efficiently, but her diet would also have been seriously deficient without the essential proteins necessary to maintain the structure of them and other vital organs.

A correct balance of proteins, fats, hydrates as well as vitamins and minerals would have been needed to keep Ana Reston’s metabolism working, even if the protein lack hadn’t induced kidney failure.

Full Article in Times