Jackie Evancho's osteoporosis at age 22 after anorexia: What others must know
Fox News
"America's Got Talent" alum Jackie Evancho, at age 22, is raising awareness about her osteoporosis secondary to anorexia nervosa — here's what to know about the bone condition.
The eating disorder requires a patient to have three diagnostic criteria. "These patients undergo profound bone loss that can be very difficult to treat short of regaining the lost weight." Estrogen is essential for bone development, especially as children are growing; so when levels fall, patients start to experience bone loss. Patients with the eating disorder also produce excessive cortisol, which may also trigger bone loss. "I'm still struggling, but I'm fighting, which is good because a year ago I was giving in to it completely."
"That's how I learned that my eating problems created osteoporosis. So now I'm a 22-year-old with osteoporosis."