How Do Eating Disorders Impact the Gut Microbiome?

Written By Emily Moorefield

Meet Your Microbiome: Mighty and Strong!

Inside you lives a bustling community of trillions of tiny microbes - bacteria, fungi, and more hanging out in your gut, mouth, skin, lungs, and beyond.

Here’s what your microbiome team does:

  • Breaks down your food like expert dietitians, unlocking all the nutrients your body needs.

  • Boosts your immune system, helping it stay calm and ready to protect you.

  • Keeps your metabolism on track by balancing blood sugar and appetite hormones.

  • Produces “feel-good” brain chemicals that brighten your mood and mental state.

  • Supports your liver, your body’s natural detox powerhouse.

  • Strengthens your gut lining, building a strong barrier to keep out unwanted invaders.

When Your Microbiome Isn’t Happy

If your microbiome crew gets thrown off balance, you might notice:

  • Digestive discomfort like bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, or acid reflux.

  • Skin issues such as acne, rashes, or eczema.

  • Mood changes including fatigue, anxiety, or feeling down.

  • Shifts in metabolism that affect your weight and blood sugar levels.

How Eating Disorders Affect This Mighty and Strong Microbiome

Anorexia Nervosa and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
With limited and less varied food intake, your microbiome’s diversity shrinks. Fewer nutrients and less fiber means starving the good bacteria that keep your gut strong.

Bulimia Nervosa
Purging and laxative misuse disrupt the delicate environment your beneficial bacteria need to thrive. These behaviors can irritate the gut lining due to the inflammatory response.

Binge Eating Disorder
Binging on sugary or processed foods can tip the balance in favor of bacteria that love sugar, reducing diversity and sparking inflammation. Plus, stress and anxiety often tag along, disrupting your microbiome even more.

This is ALMOST the end of my educational rant.

Good news: your microbiome is tough and totally capable of rebuilding itself.

If you’re in recovery and struggling with digestive issues, you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we can work on strengthening both your eating disorder recovery and your microbiome.

Interested? Let’s connect! Schedule a free 15-minute discovery call with me to see if we’re the right fit for your journey to feeling your best inside and out.

 Emily Moorefield, RD, CEDS

References:

 Cryan JF, O’Riordan KJ, Cowan CS, et al. The microbiota-gut-brain axis. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(4):1877-2013. doi:10.1152/physrev.00018.2018.

Carbone EA, D'Amato P, Vicchio G, De Fazio P, Segura-Garcia C. A systematic review on the role of microbiota in the pathogenesis and treatment of eating disorders. Eur Psychiatry. 2020 Dec 16;64(1):e2. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.109. PMID: 33416044; PMCID: PMC8057489.

Emily Moorefield
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What is Nutrition Counseling for an Eating Disorder?