Which of the following is a side effect of anorexia nervosa?

• A. High cholesterol
• B. Eating disorder where a person stops eating to be thin
• C. Loss of bone density
• D. Reproductive system problems

Answer: (C)

When someone has anorexia nervosa, chronic undernutrition and very low body weight disrupt hormones and the process that keeps bones strong. Without enough nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, and protein, and with lower levels of estrogen in many underweight individuals, bone formation slows while bone breakdown can increase. Over time this imbalance reduces bone mineral density, making bones weaker and more prone to fractures. That makes loss of bone density a direct, common and medically important side effect of the condition.

High cholesterol isn’t a typical direct consequence you’d focus on for anorexia nervosa, and the description of the disorder itself isn’t a side effect. Reproductive issues such as irregular or absent periods can occur due to hormonal changes, but the most specific and testing-highlighted consequence is the reduction in bone density.