Psychology

The most common eating disorder from lack of nutrition is anorexia. Nutrition is very crucial to human body because it affects how they feel, think and act. It is what is given to the body that acts as the fuel for the body to perform properly emotionally, and physically. There are specific nutritional needs for the body to function properly. Researches have revealed that a considerable number of people in the United States are undernourished. Eating disorder due to lack of nutrition can have detrimental effects in the body. This is where the body is deprived of the fuel that is necessary for it to function properly. Eating disorder from lack of nutrition has serious implications in the body. It can cause serious physical and mental conditions and can even lead to death (Mente, Koning, Shannon and Anand, 2009). This paper seeks to discuss the effects of eating disorder from lack of nutrition together with the effects of substance abuse, sex, gender together with personality disorders.

Substance abuse
This is the continued use of a substance that is not considered dependent. It can involve taking psychoactive drugs or drugs that enhance performance for non medical reasons. Drug abuse may lead to problems like social problems, physical dependency together with psychological addiction, violence, unsafe sexual practices, injuries, accidents and many other effects to the body.

When a drug is being abused, it may result to symptomatology a condition that is similar to mental illness. One can experience the condition in the intoxicated state or when in a withdrawal state. Drug abuse may bring about changes in the central nervous system. These changes may result to mood swings, varying levels of awareness together with sensations. Victims of drug abuse can be treated using a number of available medications such as Naltrexone a treatment that can be used for treatment of alcohol addicts. They can also be taken to rehabilitation canters where they can be put under appropriate treatment (American Psychiatric Association (2000).

Sex and personality disorders
This is occurs when an individual is unable to control hisher sexual behavior. Victims of this condition are either unable to control their sexual behavior or continue engaging in this behavior regardless of the risks involved. It is usually linked with maniac-depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and also narcissistic personality. An individual can suffer from one or more of the above conditions associated with sexual addiction at the same time. Traits of addiction are always mistaken with the above disorders. This is because of the inadequate training of physician in their diagnosis. They can be cured through frequent professional therapists together with counseling sessions (Francoeur, 1994).
In personality disorders, sexuality of patients with this kind of disorder is thwarted and underdeveloped. In cases of paranoid personality disorder, the sexual spouse is dehumanized with sex being personalized. The patient lacks interest in relationships and avoids people together with sexual encounters.

People with a history of this disorder attract attention through leveraging their body, sexuality together with their sexual appeal. They feel abandoned and separated, they are clingy, emotionally labile and also demanding (Francoeur, 1994).

Eating disorders
Effects of lack of proper nutrition
One of the major effects of eating disorder from lack of nutrition is malnutrition. This is the condition where the body lacks one or more nutrients that are necessary for it to function well. It is the lack of balance between the nutrients that the body requires and those that it receives. When a person has eating disorder, the body does not receive the amount of nutrients it requires to function well. The term malnutrition reveals deficiency for carbohydrates, protein and micronutrients (Henry, 2007). The deficiency could be of only one of the elements or a combination of more than one. Malnutrition can lead to serious health risks. The health problems that can be associated with malnutrition include respiratory diseases, kidney problems, sight problems, heart attack and in severe cases even death. Related to malnutrition is dehydration. Dehydration is as a result of failure to take in fluids into the body. It can also be as a result of limitation of carbohydrates and fat (Hoek, Treasure and Katzman, 1998). Refeeding syndrome is problem that can accompany severe malnutrition. This is where the victim is likely to undergo severe electrolyte shifts as a result of aggressive nutritional treatments. It can take place in people being fed through the tubes, or those undergoing intravenous feeding (Henry, 2007). 

Electrolyte imbalance is another effect of eating disorder from lack of nutrition. The natural electricity in the body is essential for a healthy body. Where a person is already malnourished or dehydrated, intake of a lot of water can lead to hyponatremia. This can cause some other problems like fluid in the lungs, swelling of the brain, and vomiting, among other problems including death in extreme cases. There is risk of developing metabolic difficulties.

Another effect is due to the deficiencies in vitamin and minerals. One of the problems that can come up and the result is Lanugo (Henry, 2007). This is where hair develops on the face, back and arms. This comes up as a protective mechanism for keeping the body warm. When the person is suffering from starvation and malnutrition, there is hormonal imbalance, and this is the reason why the body comes up with its own means of keeping warm. Even as the soft hair starts developing in the other parts of the body, the hair on head starts to fall out. The other problem that can come up is Edema. This is the swelling of soft tissue. The soft tissues swell due to the excessive accumulation of water. This happens mainly in the feet and legs (Herrin, 2003). 

Lack of fats in the system is likely to result to the bodys inability to absorb some vitamins. This is dangerous considering the fact that there are some vitamins and nutrients that the body is not getting. As a result of low vitamins and mineral in the body, one can suffer a condition known as impaired neuromuscular function. This is especially due to lack of potassium. There is a condition referred to as transient paralysis that can also come as a result of lack of sufficient nutrients. This is temporary paralysis where the muscles become weak and it becomes impossible for one to move. This is mostly due to low level of potassium. It can also result from degeneration of nerve cells, after they are deprived of necessary nutrients. If not treated, this condition can recur a lot many times, and in severe cases even lead to death (Herrin, 2003). 

When the body lacks nutrients, it starts eating off itself. This results to muscle strophy. When the body undergoes serious calorie deprivation, there is a serious physical impact. When there is no fuel that the body needs to work well, this is the time that it goes to the starvation level. This is the time that the body slows down in an effort to preserve the little energy available. It starts eating off itself to get the necessary nutrients. As the starvation goes on and the body fat is almost completely gone, other severe ailments start cropping up (Mente, Koning, Shannon and Anand, 2009).

There is the effect of psychological problems. Eating disorder is not only a physical problem, but also mental. The victims are more likely to suffer anxiety, stress and depression. The physical problems are accompanied by mental problems. The patients can suffer anxiety, stress and depression (Henry, 2007). 

With these kinds of problems, it is impossible for women to bear children. The menstrual cycle is affected. To some patients the cycle becomes irregular while in others it stops completely. This problem is caused by falling estrogen levels in the body. This can later result to osteoporosis (Hoek, Treasure and Katzman, 1998). This condition is fatal and unfortunately irreversible. With the loss of menstrual cycles, women are at a danger of getting ovarian cysts, and other ailments associated with the reproductive system. This can result to infertility. There can be problems with conception, fertilization and implantation of the ova, and carrying the fetus to term. Getting pregnant while the woman is suffering severe eating disorder can have some other serious effects and not only to the mother but also to the child. There is a risk of a condition referred to as gestational diabetes. This is the diabetes that occurs in women during the gestation period (Herrin, 2003). There is also increased risk of suffering preeclampsia. Labour complications that may lead to C-section during birth can occur. People with eating disorder are more vulnerable to post partum depression. The danger to the infant is that it can die within one month after it is born. Low birth weight is another problem to the baby. This is because of the poor nutrition of the mother during pregnancy. There is also the risk of the baby being born with defects like blindness or mental problems (Henry, 2007). 

Conclusion
Eating disorders are detrimental to the health of the patient. Nutrients are very necessary in our bodies. Eating disorder from lack of nutrition leads to deprivation of these nutrients. As a result, they have serious effects on the system. A system that requires nutrition as fuel to drive its operations, can obviously fail to work if there is no fuel. It has been revealed that eating disorder can even lead to death. It is important to know the effects of eating disorder in order for the victims to seek help. Therapy and treatment is possible and should be sought before it is too late.