ABSTRACT
Most of the physical problems do reverse with weight gain, or if the weight control practices stop. It may depend on the duration of the illness and the stage of life at which the illness arose. Patients on very low fat diets often have raised levels of cholesterol, which may be a risk factor for heart disease. Weight control measures that alter salt and water balance can lead to permanent kidney damage. As the kidneys have a lot of reserve function this may not become apparent unless they are put under further stress. When anorexia nervosa strikes an individual and their family, everyone is thrown into confusion. Adolescence is a critical period for cognitive and psychosocial development, and it is simply not known whether an individual will be able to reach their full potential in cognitive and psychosocial development if they recover after this critical period has passed.
