It seems ironical that a skinny person can have excess fat, the same layers that obese people are trying to shed. However, research has shown that anorexic people do have high fat content, disputing the misconception that they have no cholesterol at all. This fat content appears yellow and is found in the bone marrow. There is a decreased amount of red marrow too, which leaves bones vulnerable to fractures and increases the risk factors of developing different conditions. Here in the UK, the rate of anorexic girls is on the rise, as more girls starve themselves in order to maintain an “acceptable” body size.

When the body is starved for long, mesenchymal cells in the bone marrow differentiate into fat cells instead of bone-forming cells. This explains the loss in bone marrow. It is an unhealthy state which can lead to severe fractures and osteoporosis.

In younger girls, bone formation stops instead of forming to the maximum.  Bones lose their density over time.  Lack of nutrients in the body triggers hormonal changes; the bone marrow no longer produces cells needed to form bones.

Another abnormality in anorexics is dangerously low temperatures due to lack of insulating fat. This condition is severe and requires constant monitoring by a medical specialist. Learn more about anorexia from the source article.