There is a link between Crohn’s disease and disordered eating, with each increasing the risk of the other. Disordered eating can lead to malnutrition, psychological distress, and other complications. In some cases, it can indicate an eating disorder. Anyone who suspects that they have an eating disorder should speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes symptoms such as fatigue, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Certain foods or eating patterns may worsen the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. As a result, people with this condition often restrict their diet to help manage the symptoms.
Although more research is necessary, some evidence links Crohn’s disease and other types of IBD to disordered eating. A
Read on to learn more about the link between Crohn’s disease and disordered eating.
Disordered eating is a spectrum that includes behaviors such as:
- restricting foods
- purging, either by self-inducing vomiting or by misusing laxatives, enemas, or diuretics
- binge eating, which refers to eating unusually large amounts of food within short periods
Some people with disordered eating meet the criteria for specific eating disorders, such as:
- anorexia nervosa
- bulimia nervosa
- avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
- binge eating disorder
However, it is possible to display disordered eating behaviors without having an eating disorder.
Disordered eating can lead to malnutrition, psychological distress, and other complications.
Some
The authors of a case report also warn that doctors might mistake the symptoms of Crohn’s disease for an eating disorder.
Several factors may increase the risk of disordered eating in people with Crohn’s disease.
People with Crohn’s disease have higher-than-average rates of anxiety and depression, which may lead to a higher risk of disordered eating.
People looking to manage the symptoms of Crohn’s disease may sometimes become hypervigilant about what they eat and how it affects their body. They may restrict foods to a greater extent than necessary to manage the condition. This may lead to disordered eating.
When Crohn’s disease is active, the symptoms may reduce a person’s appetite and cause unintentional weight loss. Anecdotal evidence has linked some treatments for Crohn’s disease to weight gain, although it is unclear whether this is because of the medications themselves or a person’s improved ability to eat with treatment.
Weight changes may negatively affect a person’s perception of their body weight or their satisfaction with their body image. This may also contribute to disordered eating.
“Some research shows that individuals with Crohn’s disease have higher anxiety and depression, greater emotional eating, greater binge eating, and more cravings for highly palatable food,” Shaun Riebl, Ph.D., told Medical News Today. Riebl is the director of nutrition for Within Health, a virtual eating disorder treatment program.
“These symptoms make sense if an individual is restricting foods and trying to eat ‘perfectly,’ based on rhetoric about ‘clean eating’ and ‘anti-inflammatory’ foods. Unfortunately, these food beliefs and behaviors can put you at risk for disordered eating or an eating disorder,” he said.
Anorexia nervosa
People with anorexia nervosa, known as anorexia, restrict the amount of food they eat, often to the point that it causes low body weight. They fear weight gain, even though they are underweight.
Some people have atypical anorexia, which means that they are not underweight but otherwise meet the criteria for the eating disorder.
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The study authors note that research suggests that anorexia might raise the risk of Crohn’s disease by increasing inflammation and disrupting the balance of bacteria and other microbes in the digestive system. More research is necessary to study the link between anorexia and Crohn’s disease.
ARFID
ARFID is a relatively new diagnosis. People with this condition restrict the amount or type of food they eat to the point that it causes significant weight loss, malnutrition, or psychological and social challenges. Unlike with anorexia, research has not linked this condition to distress relating to body shape or size.
In a 2021 study involving 161 adults with IBD, 17% scored positive for ARFID on a screening test. Participants who scored positive for ARFID had an increased risk of malnutrition.
Many participants in the study reported avoiding certain foods or entire food groups, even when their IBD was in remission.
Binge eating
When a person binge eats, they eat an unusually large amount of food in a relatively short time window. They feel a lack of control over what or how much they eat.
A 2018 study found that moderate-severity binge eating affected 29% of people with Crohn’s disease, compared with 3% of people without Crohn’s disease.
People with Crohn’s disease reported greater cravings for both sweet and savory foods, as well as lower levels of control over these cravings.
These individuals also had lower mood scores. Psychological distress may help account for higher rates of binge eating in people with this condition.
It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between the signs and symptoms of an eating disorder and those of Crohn’s disease. Eating disorders and Crohn’s disease can both affect someone’s eating and bowel habits. Both can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss, and malnutrition.
MNT connected with Jennifer Diggs to learn how to recognize a potential eating disorder in people with Crohn’s disease. She is a registered dietitian at Mymee, an organization that provides specialized care for people with autoimmune diseases.
Diggs shared the following warning signs of an eating disorder:
- poor eating during meals
- excessive restriction of food, beyond what is beneficial for managing Crohn’s disease
- fixation on a certain food or food group, to the neglect of others
- excessive trips to the bathroom following meals
- avoidance of social or celebratory meals with family or friends
- hiding or lying about eating habits
- taking medication or smoking to suppress the appetite
Although some fluctuations in body weight often occur during flare-ups or remissions of Crohn’s disease, continued weight loss or gain is another potential sign of an eating disorder.
Excessive concern about body shape, weight, or both is also common in people with eating disorders. However, a person with ARFID or binge eating disorder might not have this symptom.
A person should speak with a gastroenterologist and registered dietitian before restricting their diet to manage Crohn’s disease. These specialists can help them learn how to adjust their diet safely to meet their nutritional needs. They can also monitor the person for signs of disordered eating.
“Working with qualified medical professionals and a registered dietitian with experience in treating Crohn’s disease will help you to discern what works for you and your body,” Riebl told MNT.
“There is no evidence that food can cause or cure Crohn’s disease or even cause flare-ups. However, food might affect symptoms,” he said. “Modifications for Crohn’s disease are individualized, tailored to each patient’s needs.”
Anyone who thinks that they may have developed an eating disorder should talk with a doctor as soon possible. The doctor will refer them to an eating disorder specialist for treatment. In severe cases, a person may require inpatient treatment in a hospital or residential treatment program.
“It is important to get specialized help with an eating disorder treatment team,” Angela Fish told MNT. She is the clinical nutrition manager at UC San Diego Health Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research in California.
“Eating disorder treatment is offered at many levels of care, including outpatient, partial hospitalization, and residential,” she added.
Making dietary adjustments may help people with Crohn’s disease manage symptoms of the condition. However, some people with Crohn’s disease restrict their diet more than necessary to manage the symptoms. Some people binge eat or engage in other forms of disordered eating.
Those who wish to learn how to manage Crohn’s disease safely and effectively should speak with a gastroenterologist. They may also find it helpful to connect with a registered dietitian. These specialists can help them learn which dietary modifications may work well for them.
If a person suspects that they might have an eating disorder, they should speak with a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor can refer them to an eating disorder specialist for treatment.