Expert: Joanne - 4/16/2007

Question
hi
i have struggled off and on with anorexia and bullimia for about 9 years. for the most part im not doing too bad right now but i still dont eat normally. i recently fainted at work and that lead to a bunch of tests. they tell me i have ketones in my urine. the protein in my muscles are breaking down. i dont understand much about this. am i in danger? also what can i do to repair this?

Answer
Yes, you are in danger!  I don't want to scare you, but sometimes it is the only way to get through!  Instead of using the food you are eating, the body is breaking itself down in order to fuel its basic functions.

Ketones in the urine indicates that your body is breaking down fatty acids stored within the body.  The body needs to break down fats in order to give the brain its fuel supply  if you are not taking in enough glucose, but to fuel most of the rest of the body, they will break down lean muscle.  To begin with, this will be a loss of muscle mass and strength within the legs, arms, etc.  In time, however, your body will have to break down other muscle - your heart is a muscle!

Some people with anorexia will develop complications involving the heart due to the loss of heart muscle!  This will be made even more of a risk suffering from bulimia at the same time as bulimia causes you to lose some of the elctrolytes in your body that makes sure your heart is beating efficiently, leading to abnormal heart rhythms, and an increased risk of cardiac arrest!

I don't want to scare you, but I do recommend that you discuss these results with your Dr, and try and get treatment for your eating disorder!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to get back in touch!

All the best
Holly