Eating disorders are complex medical conditions with a wide variety of influencing factors. A growing body of research is finding that the gut-brain connection may play an important role in the development of eating disorders. Eating disorders, regardless of cause or severity, are treatable and recovery is possible. This article will take a deeper look at the gut-brain connection and its role in eating disorder recovery. 

What Is an Eating Disorder? 

An eating disorder is a serious mental health condition characterized by intense changes in eating behaviors and relationship with food and the body. Eating disorders include conditions such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, and OSFED. Those experiencing eating disorders often have a negative relationship with food and eating and/or distorted body image. These symptoms often co-occur with other psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression, which can add to the challenges and complexity of eating disorders.

Eating disorders are experienced differently by each individual, depending on a wide variety of factors, however there are some common signs and symptom:

• Obsession with calories and nutritional information
• Avoidance of particular food groups
• Fluctuations in body weight 
• Secretive or ritualized eating habits
• Excessive or constant dieting and exercise
• Bingeing and purging behaviors 
• Fixation on body weight and shape

These behaviors can have significant health impacts, including gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), infertility, organ failure, and even loss of life. Impacts of an eating disorder go beyond the physical as well. Many individuals struggling with eating disorders may experience intense feelings of shame and guilt, engage in self-harm behaviors, and struggle with substance abuse, anxiety, or depression. With early intervention and access to care, recovery from eating disorders is possible.  

The Gut-Brain Connection

Did you know your gut and your brain are always communicating? The gut-brain connection, also called the gut-brain axis, refers to the complex, bidirectional communication system constantly running between your brain and your gut. The gut is lined with nerve cells that connect directly to your brain, relaying a wide array of messages from hunger cues to emotional reactions. The feeling of butterflies or your stomach dropping in response to activities happening around you is your gut-brain connection at work, with actual neurons in your gut firing off responses. Your central nervous system (CNS) is run by the brain, which is directly connected to the enteric nervous system (ENS) in the gut, often referred to as the “second brain.” The enteric nervous system controls digestion, secretion of hormones, immune response, and neurological feedback. With this information, it is clear to see that gut health and mental health are intimately linked. 

Not only is your gut filled with hypersensitive nerve cells, but it is also abundant with gut microbes, or microscopic organisms that help keep your gut healthy and body functions moving. These gut microbiota produce chemicals like neurotransmitters (such as serotonin), hormones, and metabolites, small molecules that directly affect cognitive function and thus influence one’s behaviors. These chemicals can protect the brain’s functions or disrupt normal functioning, depending on the type of chemical, microbe diversity, gut health, and more. The gut-brain connection has been found at play for a myriad of conditions from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as anxiety and depression.

Eating Disorders and the Gut

The gut-brain connection has powerful influence over both physical and mental health, and can even play a role in the development of eating disorders. The condition of one’s central nervous system and gut health have direct and immediate impacts on mood stability, behavior, immune response, and gastrointestinal function. For example, if someone is feeling high stress or anxiety, often bloating, diarrhea, and/or abdominal pain follow. Conversely, when a person is suffering from gastrointestinal problems, brain fog, confusion, and fatigue often occur. Stress, illness, and disease, in either the gut or the brain, have immense impacts on emotions, mood, behavior, and digestion. In fact, scientists have linked many psychiatric conditions and general brain health to the health of the gut-brain connection. Within the gut, a negative feedback loop can develop quickly if there are drastic or disordered changes in eating. This can immediately affect psychological wellness, which in turn impacts gut health, creating a progressively challenging cycle rooted in the gut-brain connection. Researchers are working to understand the nuances of this phenomena to better understand a potential cause of eating disorders and develop improved treatments.
 

Eating Disorder Recovery

Clearly eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that affect the whole body and mind. Nevertheless, recovery is possible. As research further uncovers underlying neurological factors related to the gut-brain axis, the field of eating disorder recovery experiences advancements to better help individuals struggling. 

If you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder, it is important to work closely with a healthcare provider, specifically someone who specializes in eating disorders. Nutritional rehabilitation can have positive impacts on gut health, which in turn can impact psychological stability and help you on the path to recovery. Increasingly, gastroenterology professionals are working with eating disorders patients to work toward recovery. Therefore, recovery may include psychiatric interventions, as well as gut health-oriented treatment like prescribed probiotics and prebiotics to bolster gut bacteria and intestinal health.

The brain-gut connection can be a critical piece to consider when treating an eating disorder. This interaction between psychological function and the digestive system have immense impacts for those living with an eating disorder and those working toward recovery. Dysregulated brain functions and abnormal gut function are deeply connected, therefore it can be important to tackle both brain and gut function for the long-term well-being of both the body and mind. 

Seek Help

If you or a loved one is experiencing an eating disorder, you are not alone. Recovery is possible and help is available with the National Alliance for Eating Disorders.