Can anorexia cause high cholesterol?

Yes, anorexia can cause high cholesterol. Despite consuming very little food, individuals with anorexia often have significantly elevated levels of cholesterol, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. This phenomenon challenges the traditional belief that dietary cholesterol is the primary determinant of body cholesterol levels. The liver in anorexic individuals can overproduce cholesterol, particularly under conditions where there's not enough cholesterol to synthesize essential hormones like testosterone and estrogen, which are derived from cholesterol. This overproduction results in unhealthy blood lipid profiles, despite the minimal food intake typical in anorexia 1 .