A Link Between the Gut-Microbiota and Restrictive Eating
October 31, 2023
Writer: Ella Javorsky
Editor: Chloe Cardello
We live in a society where individuals are praised for under-eating and overexercising: one where we are trained to seek validation from the posts they upload on social media that highlight their slim fit and “healthy” eating habits. Unrealistic “what I eat in a day” reels catch the viewer’s eye, and social comparisons drive one to test themselves and skip a meal or eat less. When I embarked on a three-year Authentic Science Research Program at my high school, I devoted crucial time to exploring the novel connection between the intestinal microbiota and anorexia nervosa. I realized that restrictive eating leads to more than just weight loss, and it’s time that we expose the somatic consequences of restrictive eating beyond just losing weight.
Anorexia Nervosa
At the start of my research, I honed in on the leading causes and characteristics of anorexia nervosa (AN). AN is a chronic psychiatric disorder characterized by weight phobia, disturbance of body image, and the restriction of food and energy intake, followed by a significantly decreased body weight. Approximately 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder in their lifetime, and 10-20% of female college students suffer from an eating disorder. Among these individuals, 40% of patients with AN experience a relapse during recovery. A catalyst for this is that treatment therapies focus primarily on weight gain, and they do not target all of the other health consequences of AN, especially regarding the gut microbiota.
The intestinal microbiota
The intestinal microbiota is the ecosystem of microorganisms living in our gut, including bacteria, archaea, parasites, viruses, and fungi. Across my research, I found that microbes play an essential role in our health by producing essential metabolites, allowing the body to absorb nutrients from food, and protecting the host from pathogens; therefore, we must nurture them with a diverse range of whole foods and consistent meals.
What’s the connection?
There is a crucial connection between restrictive eating and gut health. Since both the host and gut microbes are deprived of nutrients and calories through restrictive behaviors, the beneficial influence of microbial species is compromised. Harmful and pathogenic bacterial species take control of the gut through a phenomenon known as gut dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis is an altered composition of the intestinal microbiota, characterized by a decrease in the diversity of microorganisms and a dominance of pathogenic and anxiogenic (anxiety-promoting) bacteria, a common reality for patients with AN. Many individuals with an eating disorder do not realize this connection, and they believe that their skipped meals are progress toward the perfect body rather than a danger to their gut health. As a result, there is a vicious cycle between restrictive eating, disrupted metabolic processes or gut dysbiosis, and relapse during recovery.
As for college students who are surrounded by disordered-eating behaviors and plagued by unrealistic expectations in the media, it is time that we reframe our mindset. Acknowledging the gut’s role in digestion and the consequences of disordered eating is a necessary first step. Doing so can teach us to give back to our bodies through adequate fuel and gut-friendly foods. It is time to steer away from media promoting a skipped meal or a certain body type and stop comparing ourselves to others. Our body and our gut are powerhouses that need energy, so we must listen to our bodies and shift our mindset towards promoting healthy eating behaviors.
Works Cited
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Feeding and Eating Disorders of DSM-5. In
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). doi:10.1176/appi.books
.9780890425596.744053
Breton, J., Déchelotte, P., Ribet, D., (2019). Intestinal microbiota and Anorexia Nervosa.
Clinical Nutrition Experimental, 28, 11-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yclnex.2019.05.001.
Dejong, H., Broadbent, H., & Schmidt, U. (2012). A systematic review of dropout from treatment in outpatients with anorexia nervosa. The International journal of eating disorders, 45(5), 635–647. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20956
Eisenberg, D., Nicklett, E. J., Roeder, K., & Kirz, N. E. (2011). Eating disorder symptoms among college students: prevalence, persistence, correlates, and treatment-seeking. Journal of American college health : J of ACH, 59(8), 700–707. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2010.546461
