April 2026 Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE...

• Message from the Chair
• Topic of the Month: Understanding Bone Health and Recovery
• Tip of the Month: Get a DEXA Scan
• Research Corner: Research on Bone Density and Eating Disorders
• Feedback Corner
• Join the EDANZ Helpline: Help us support others on the journey
• Upcoming EDANZ support meetings

Andrea Bonetto – Chairperson

Understanding Bone Health and Recovery

When a person suffers from a restrictive eating disorder, to keep the heart beating and vital organs functioning, the body systematically begins to consume its own internal resources. After fat stores are exhausted, the body breaks down muscle (this is where the heart is compromised), and eventually, it begins to deplete the bone itself. It is not just a minor side effect; it is actually the body "borrowing" from its own strength just to keep going. That is how you end up with things like early onset osteoporosis (weak bones) and dental trouble. Because you cannot see it happening, this bone loss can stay a problem long after someone looks healthy again on the outside.

The good news is that the body is remarkably resilient, and recovery is a powerful rebuilding process. However, restoring bone health is more complex than simply "gaining weight". It requires consistent, long-term nutritional rehabilitation to stabilise hormones and return the metabolism to a healthy state. Only when the body feels "safe" and well-nourished over a sustained period can it stop the internal erosion and begin the slow work of rebuilding bone density. This is why early intervention and persistent, evidence-based support are so critical; the sooner we can intervene, the sooner we can stop that biological debt from growing.

While bone health can be one of the slower systems to heal, it is absolutely possible to find a way back to strength. With the right clinical guidance and the unwavering "scaffolding" of a supportive whānau, the body can heal, the brain can be rewired, and a full, healthy life can be reclaimed. At EDANZ, we are here to walk beside you, ensuring no family has to navigate the path to wellness alone.

Get a DEXA Scan

When your loved one has been diagnosed with a restrictive eating disorder, ask your GP to refer them for a DEXA scan (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). It is a very simple and painless test; they just lie flat on a padded table for about ten to fifteen minutes while a scanning arm passes over their body. It uses a much lower level of radiation than a standard chest X-ray, so it is very safe.

While a normal X-ray looks for broken bones, a DEXA scan measures how strong and dense the bones are; it looks "inside" the bone to see if it is becoming thin or brittle.

What it tells you: The scan compares bone density to that of a healthy young person. This helps doctors see if there is any sign of bone thinning, known as osteopenia, or more serious bone loss like osteoporosis.

This is vital in eating disorder recovery because bone loss is often invisible. A DEXA scan is the only way to see if the body has been "borrowing" from the skeleton to survive. Getting a scan provides a necessary baseline of bone health so that, as recovery progresses, you can track how well the bones are healing and getting stronger again.

Research on Bone Density and Eating Disorders:

Males:

For a long time, bone research focused almost exclusively on females, but a 2024 meta analysis in The Journal of Adolescent Health highlighted the unique risks for males with restrictive eating disorders. It found that males often suffer more severe and more rapid bone loss than females because their testosterone levels drop so sharply. Male bone loss is often completely silent until a major fracture occurs. This research is now being used to advocate for earlier DEXA scans for males entering treatment.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6615544/

Females:
Why a Period Isn’t a “Clean Bill of Health” for Your Bones

For a long time, the absence of a menstrual cycle was the primary red flag we looked for to signal bone loss. But we now know that bone health is much more sensitive than we once thought. A landmark study by Papageorgiou et al. (2017) proved that our bones respond almost instantly to a lack of fuel, well before the rest of the body’s systems start to shut down.

Researchers looked at women with perfectly regular cycles and found that after just five days of low energy availability, their bone metabolism shifted. Specifically, there was a significant drop in a marker that shows the body is building new bone, and a spike in a marker showing bone is being broken down.

Essentially, the "construction crew" for your bones stopped working and the "demolition crew" sped up, all while the participants’ menstrual cycles appeared completely normal. This is why a regular period can be a bit of a "false friend" in recovery; it doesn't always mean your bones are safe. To truly understand what’s happening beneath the surface, a DEXA scan remains the gold standard for getting the full picture.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S8756328217303137

“Thank you EDANZ, you have been so helpful  and I am very grateful.”

- South Island parent

If EDANZ helped you or you have any suggestions on what we can do better, please email us at: info@ed.org.nz

We’d love to hear from you.

Join the EDANZ Helpline: Help us support others on the journey

If you have supported a loved one through an eating disorder and feel ready to give back, your lived experience is incredibly valuable. The EDANZ helpline is a vital lifeline for families navigating the complexities of eating disorders. We are currently looking for volunteers to join us in providing support and guidance. By joining our team, you can offer hope and understanding to those who are now walking the path you once travelled.

We welcome any amount of time you can offer, and every hour of support makes a profound difference for our community. Your unique perspective allows you to connect with families in a way that truly matters. If you would like to help us ensure that no one faces this challenge alone, please get in touch with us. We would love to discuss how you can contribute to this rewarding mission.

Get in touch

Upcoming support group meetings

EDANZ believes parents/carers have unique abilities to support one another and we hold regular meetings to which you are warmly invited. Currently, we're joining together around the country on the first Wednesday of every month thanks to videoconferencing technology. 

If you would like to participate in a virtual support group, please RSVP to info@ed.org.nz and we'll send you the link.

Upcoming meetings:  

• Wednesday, 6 May at 8pm
• Wednesday, 3 June at 8pm

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