#27: The Official Cause of Death Is Ruled Heart Failure Related to Anorexia Nervosa
An autopsy determined that Karen Carpenter died from heart failure caused by complications of anorexia nervosa. Years of starvation had weakened her heart, and the process of refeeding placed additional strain on an already fragile system.
The ruling clarified that her death was not sudden or mysterious, but the result of long-term illness. At the time, this explanation shocked many, as eating disorders were rarely discussed publicly and were widely misunderstood, especially outside medical circles.