Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by compulsively consuming large amounts of food and then using extreme efforts to avoid gaining weight. It affects both men and women of all ages but is most predominately seen in young women. Someone who is bulimic puts themselves at serious risks, the most dangerous of which is dehydration due to frequent vomiting, diuretics, or laxatives. These individuals often develop electrolyte imbalances, the most frequent of which is low potassium levels. Low potassium levels can lead to kidney failure, irregular heart rate and even death. Other side effects may be constant sore throat, dizziness, ruptured blood vessels in the eyes, bloating, tooth decay, acid reflux, ulcers, and many others. Bulimia does not have a single cause but many contributing factors. Body image and low self esteem are the leading causes but this individuals usually have a history of abuse or trauma, a profession which is oriented around appearance, or are experiencing major life changes. These individuals typically have a hard time dealing with stress in a ...
Sara is a thirty three year old lesbian black female. She reports that she was 5’9” in eighth grade and has always been larger than everyone. She also reports that her grandmother was present in her life and would control her diet with slim fast starting around eighth grade, and her brother lived with her as well. Sara has stated that growing up, she did not feel safe, and that there has been trauma causing her life struggles. Her close friend, Julie, reports that she is aware of Sara’s condition but only because she has brought it up when something apparent relates, but declines to discuss in any further detail. Julie states that it is hard to believe Sara is struggling with such a condition and for so long because
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating as well as by self-induced vomiting and/or laxative abuse (Mitchell, 1986). Episodes of overeating typically alternate with attempts to diet, although the eating habits of bulimics and their methods of weight control vary (Fairburn et al., 1986). The majority of bulimics have a body weight within the normal range for their height, build, and age, and yet possess intense and prominent concerns about their shape and weight (Fairburn et al., 1986). Individuals with bulimia nervosa are aware that they have an eating problem, and therefore are often eager to receive help. The most common approach to treating bulimia nervosa has been with cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Bulimia nervosa afflicts mostly women (about 6% of adolescent girls, and 5% of college women). Most individuals with bulimia engage in compensatory activities such as vomiting, laxative abuse, strict dieting, and vigorous exercise (Alexander).
A variation of Anorexia, Bulimia ranges from excessive food intake, to an out of control compulsive cycle of binge eating where extraordinary amounts of any available food, usually of high carbohydrate content, may be consumed. Once having gorged, the victims are overcome with the urge to rd themselves of what they hate eaten by purging themselves, usually by vomiting, and sometimes by massive doses of laxatives. Between these obsessive bouts, most are able to accept some nutrition. Whereas the anorexic sufferer fears fatness from anticipated loss of eating control, and unlike the anorexic sufferer the typical bulimic individual is not emaciated, but usually maintains a normal body weight and appears to be fit and healthy.
I did my research on eating disorders, specifically, Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia) and Bulimia Nervosa (bulimia). I chose anorexia and bulimia as my topic because eating disorders are common in today’s society and I often hear about girls suffering from it. I also have friends that have suffered from eating disorders and it makes me worry. I have even noticed that my little eight year old sister is concerned about her body. She asks me questions like “What do you think my butt looks like? Does it have the right shape?” Even at a young age girls have the impression of needing to look perfect. I think one of the biggest factors is how much pressure teenagers are under but especially how girls are getting the wrong impression from the media of what “perfect” is. Girls get this image of how they have to look from celebrities and also from magazines. Today almost every picture is photo shopped and it is impossible to look like girls that have been photo shopped to what society calls “perfect”. I have even seen a video on how an image of a girl on a magazine is made up of four different images of girls to make one “perfect” girl. I feel it is very sad how girls are judged on their bodies. I am hoping to learn about these eating disorders and understand better how to help my family and friends and also how to prevent them.
Becoming healthy should lead to happiness; however an unhealthy lifestyle and attitude can lead to depression. Anorexia Nervosa is a life-threatening disorder that not only affects the body, but it affects the mind. It is a mental disorder that creates an unhealthy obsession with someone’s weight and body image, leading to people who look nothing more than skin and bones. Television, magazines and the internet seem to criticize people’s looks and body types, however could they be representing a small population? There are a large amount of people who have fallen into obesity – perhaps the media are simply promoting a healthier diet and lifestyle. Without this push to become healthy, the amount of people becoming obese will increase drastically.
Bulimia is one of the major eating disorders among teens. Bulimia is when someone binges− eats a lot of food in a short period of time− and then purges, ...
Binge-eating disorder is defined as an eating disorder in which a person frequently consumes large amounts of food while feeling out of control and unable to stop. Almost everyone overeats every once in a while but for some people overeating crosses the line to binge-eating disorder and it becomes a regular occurrence. Many people who have this disorder may feel embarrassed about eating large amounts of food in front of others however the urge and compulsiveness of this disorder continues to affect their eating habits. Binge-eating disorder is estimated to affect approximately 1-5% of the general population and also tends to affect women slightly more often than men. Binge-eating disorder is often associated with symptoms of depression and people diagnosed with this may often express distress, shame, and guilt over their eating behaviors.
There is substantial evidence that supports the efficacy of individual and group CBT in treating binge eating disorder (“Part A,” 2006). The CBT approach for binge eating disorder is active and directive. At the cognitive level individuals in CBT are taught to identify, test, and correct their faulty cognitions. Behavioral strategies in CBT for binge eating include monitoring binge patterns, educating the individual, and introducing incompatible activities (Parrott, 1998). One study assessed the long-term efficacy of CBT in the treatment of binge eating disorder. They assessed a sample of 68 patients with binge eating disorder and a substantial reduction of binge eating was observed during treatment. There was a decline at the three-year follow-up and at the four, five, and six-year follow up there was a slight worsening of binge eating was observed in the individuals (Ricca, Mannucci, Zucchi, Rotella, & Faravelli, 2000). Other psychosocial therapies that show efficacy in the treatment for binge eating disorder are interpersonal therapy (IPT) and dialectical behavior therapy. There is evidence that both of these therapies are effective in the improvement of behavioral and psychological symptom (“Part A,” 2006).
There may be murmurs about that girl who only fixes herself a salad with only vinegar at dining services or suspicious glances at someone who spends 45 minutes on the treadmill and then switches to the stair stepper at the rec. On-campus eating disorders are talked about everywhere and yet are not really talked about at all. There is observation, concern, and gossip, but hushed conversation and larger scale efforts to help and change never seem to earn public attention.
Bulimia nervosa is a slightly less serious version of anorexia, but can lead to some of the same horrible results. Bulimia involves an intense concern about weight (which is generally inaccurate) combined with frequent cycles of binge eating followed by purging, through self-induced vomiting, unwarranted use of laxatives, or excessive exercising. Most bulimics are of normal body weight, but they are preoccupied with their weight, feel extreme shame about their abnormal behavior, and often experience significant depression. The occurrence of bulimia has increased in many Western countries over the past few decades. Numbers are difficult to establish due to the shame of reporting incidences to health care providers (Bee and Boyd, 2001).
Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known simply as bulimia or binge and purge disorder, is an eating disorder that affects 1 in 4 college-aged women in America, or 1 in 10,000 Americans. The most common misconception concerning bulimia is that it is simply a physical or mental problem. Many people do not understand that bulimia is a disease that affects both the mind and the body, and in its course can destroy both aspects of the diseased individual.
Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are described as psychological eating disorders (Keel and Levitt, 1). They are both characterized by an over evaluation of weight. Despite being primarily eating disorders, the manifestations of bulimia and anorexia are different. They both present a very conspicuous example of dangerous psychological disorders, as according to the South Carolina Department of Health, “Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness” (Eating Order Statistics, 1). While Bulimia and anorexia both psychological disorders primarily prevalent in women, anorexia tend to have different diagnostic complexities, symptoms and physiological effects as compared to bulimia.
Bulimia nervosa is an extremely dangerous eating disorder, as it tends to affect more than just weight. According to Healthline, bulimia nervosa can lead to other detrimental health problems such as anemia, low blood pressure, tooth decay and mouth sores, broken vessels in the eyes, dry skin, ulcers, gastrointestinal problems, esophageal ruptures and stomach ruptures from excessive vomiting, irregular periods, and kidney failure due to chronically low levels of sodium (Hirsch, 2014).
Of the three eating disorders, anorexia gets the most attention and has the highest mortality rate of six percent out of any mental illness. According to the International Journal of Eating Disorders, half of the deaths caused by anorexia are suicide. Anorexia is when an individual feels that his or her body is distorted. Anorexia is also when an individual starves himself or herself because of the fear of being overweight (Elkins 44). If an individual suffers from anorexia they will loose anywhere from fifteen to sixty percent of their body weight by starving his or herself. Some of the symptoms of anorexia are heart problems, anemia, and fertility problems (“Eating Disorders”). Another horrible eating disorder is bulimia, which is when a person over eats, feels guilty, and then purges, take...