Nutrition and diet has an effect on all parts of the body, including the hair. If the body is lacking certain vitamins and minerals, or simply isn’t getting enough food, it can cause the hair to fall out.
Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia can be devastating to a number of the body’s systems and can even be fatal if left untreated. The excessive weight loss associated with these illnesses can cause stress to the body, resulting in the shedding of hair.
Eating disorders cause hair loss in the following three stages:
• Due to a lack of proper nutrition, gastric abnormalities and organ function insufficiency, the hairs in the anagen (growing phase, occurring at the roots in the hair follicles) become starved
• Hair then skips the catagen (transitional) phase
• Hair goes straight into the the telogen (resting) phase and then the exogen (loss) phase of the hair growth cycle. This can cause mass shedding and premature loss of hair in a condition known as telogen effluvium
For the sake of your hair and more importantly, your health, it is crucial that you eat properly and take care of yourself. If you think you have an eating disorder, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis, treatment and support.