Keto Means
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

How do you reintroduce food after starvation?

When recovering from starvation syndrome, a registered dietitian nutritionist may be recommend to “eat by the clock” at the beginning to get your child's body used to consuming food regularly. For most folks, the goal is to aim for 3 meals as well as and 2-4 snacks each day.

How can I thicken sauce without flour or cornstarch?
How can I thicken sauce without flour or cornstarch?

Puree some vegetables. Starchy vegetables—like potatoes, winter squash or celeriac—are excellent thickening agents, especially if they've been...

Read More »
Can meatloaf be cooked at 325?
Can meatloaf be cooked at 325?

Therefore, in a convection oven, you can cook your meatloaf at 325°F and the cooking times will change as follows: Muffin tin meatloaves take from...

Read More »

Starvation syndrome is a physical complication of an eating disorder. As we have talked about before on the blog, eating disorders begin as a mental health concern and can quickly deteriorate into a physical health concern. This blog post discusses several of these indicators as well as common ways to help combat these uncomfortable symptoms.

Watch the Video Here!

What is Starvation Syndrome?

Starvation syndrome can occur in individuals of all weights when the body does not get the energy it needs for an extended period of time. It is commonly seen in people living with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder because they may restrict food, irregularly eat, and/or compensate for ingested calories through over-exercising or forcing the body to eliminate food quickly.

How Do I Know If My Child Has Starvation Syndrome?

It is important to remember that starvation syndrome can impact folks of any weight, and with any eating disorder. This means no matter the diagnosis, if your child is living with an eating disorder they may experience starvation syndrome. If you believe your child may be living with an eating disorder, we strongly recommend that you reach out to a qualified healthcare member for help. This may include your family doctor, a dietitian nutritionist, or a pediatrician, or a psychologist who specializes in children and/or eating disorders.

Symptoms and Indicators

The symptoms that are commonly associated with eating disorders are often symptoms of starvation syndrome. At Change Creates Change, we often see that it is these starvation syndrome effects that raise the red flag for parents that an eating disorder is present in their child. Starvation syndrome can affect all aspects of someone’s life. It impairs our physiological, emotional, cognitive, and social functions. When the body does not get the nutrition it needs, systems in the body begin to shut down to preserve life. The big indicators that usually are seen first are a slowed heart rate, lowered blood pressure, decreased concentration, increased irritability – just to name a few.

Signs of Starvation Syndrome

What kills belly fat faster?
What kills belly fat faster?

The following sections look at specific ways to help get rid of belly fat. Focus on low calorie foods. ... Eliminate sugary drinks. ... Eat fewer...

Read More »
What can you eat on a keto diet at a Chinese restaurant?
What can you eat on a keto diet at a Chinese restaurant?

15 Keto-Friendly Chinese Foods Egg foo young. Egg foo young is a Chinese omelet filled with veggies like cabbage, bean sprouts, and onions. ......

Read More »

Physical Changes

The physical changes that may take place can affect many organs and systems throughout the body. Less visible physical changes that can occur include: reduced heart muscle mass, slower basal metabolic rate, extreme fatigue, weakness, dizziness, feeling cold all the time, and decreased hormone levels. More visible physical changes that can occur are: hair loss, blackouts, fluid retention, low libido, and dry skin.

Emotional Changes

Emotional changes often take place as well and can manifest themselves as depression, anxiety, irritability, or loss of interest in life. People experiencing starvation syndrome often feel ‘flat’ or report feeling ‘numb’. Brain function can also be impaired, which may result in decreased concentration, impaired comprehension, diminished judgement and ability to make decisions, obsessive thoughts, and decreased alertness.

Behavioural Changes

Starvation syndrome can also affect your child’s friends and family as those affected may lose their sense of humour, withdraw from relationships, and/or neglect personal hygiene. It is often seen that people living with an eating disorder, especially those affected by starvation, isolate themselves. This may manifest as your child avoiding social settings, such as eating in the cafeteria, or joining family dinners. Additional possible behaviour changes to look out for may include: frequent thoughts about food, strict meal planning, very fast or very slow eating, increased hunger, binge-eating, hoarding, and increasing the use of spices or condiments.

How to Treat Starvation Syndrome

Although starvation syndrome has a long list of potential side effects, remember that it can be treated and reversed. Once your child has been seen by a qualified healthcare professional to be assessed and monitored, an individual treatment plan will be created. The treatments to reverse starvation syndrome include physical re-nourishment, weight restoration, nutrition rehabilitation and psychological therapy to address the negative feelings about food and body-image.

The Refeeding Process

Physical re-nourishment, also known as the initial refeeding process, is the foundation for other positive changes. It involves establishing regular eating habits and consuming nourishing meals. The symptoms of starvation may persist in the beginning of re-nourishment, but they will disappear eventually. You can learn more about the refeeding process in our blog post here, or watch our Youtube video on it here.

Mechanical Eating

Does lettuce break a fast?
Does lettuce break a fast?

Other foods allowed during fasting are vegetables, whether fermented or unfermented, sauerkraut, tempeh, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, strawberries,...

Read More »
How long does it take for keto to kick in?
How long does it take for keto to kick in?

It takes two to three weeks on the diet to start fat burning (ketosis) in the body. So, don't expect instant results. Some studies have shown that...

Read More »

Regular eating is important as it brings the body back into a state of balance. Humans function best when we eat about every 3 hours throughout the day. When recovering from starvation syndrome, a registered dietitian nutritionist may be recommend to “eat by the clock” at the beginning to get your child’s body used to consuming food regularly. For most folks, the goal is to aim for 3 meals as well as and 2-4 snacks each day. Preparing meals in advance may be helpful with staying on schedule. At first, your child may feel uncomfortable eating every 3 hours, but their digestive system will adapt over time and it will become easier. Once a regular eating routine is in place, a dietitian nutritionist may recommend to begin to increase portion sizes and broaden food choices. It may also recommended that your child drinks fluids between meals to ease digestion, but not so much that they are too full to eat their next meal. Recovering from starvation syndrome is a long, but doable process. Your family will probably hit a few bumps along the way, but remember that recovery is possible. Our team of registered dietitians and therapists at Change Creates Change Eating Disorder Care believe in empowering parents to support their child in their eating disorder recovery. If you believe your child may be showing signs of starvation syndrome or an eating disorder and you are not sure where to turn first, you can book a free 15-minute consultation call with us.

How many steps is a 2 hour walk?
How many steps is a 2 hour walk?

If you aim to walk 10,000 steps, this will take you two hours, or 4 to 5 miles, depending on your stride. Aug 3, 2022

Read More »
What are 7 things that slow down metabolism?
What are 7 things that slow down metabolism?

7 Surprising Things That Slow Down Your Metabolism Fasting for too long. ... Avoiding the weight room. ... Eating inconsistent daily meals. ... Not...

Read More »
What is the healthiest fruit to put in oatmeal?
What is the healthiest fruit to put in oatmeal?

Fresh Fruit Bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, mangoes, melons, apples, peaches and pears are all tasty and healthy...

Read More »
Is McDonald's scrambled eggs keto-friendly?
Is McDonald's scrambled eggs keto-friendly?

8. The "big breakfast" without the biscuit and hash browns. This classic breakfast totally qualifies as keto if you skip the biscuit and hash...

Read More »