Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and compensatory behaviors. Binge eating involves eating an excessive amount of food in a short amount of time without self-control for consumption. Then, compensatory behaviors follow the binge in an effort to preserve body image and to prevent weight gain. Such behaviors may include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, dietary restriction, or excessive exercise (1). This disorder primarily affects women, and up to 15% of women suffer from either BN, Anorexia Nervosa (AN), or some other eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) within their lifetime (2).The diagnosis of BN can be classified as either a full disorder or a partial disorder (Table …show more content…
Between the ages of 16 and 20 is the period when most women begin binging and purging—about the time when these women begin leaving home for college. Up to 45% of adolescent girls claim to struggle with weight control, deem themselves as fat, or have hopes to become slimmer (5). Because of these excessive weight and shape concerns, young women restrict themselves from eating the proper caloric intake, and this is then followed by binge episodes. This, as a result of overeating, leads to various compensatory behaviors (6). Overall, women who have trouble maintaining their weight and food intake are at an increased risk for BN (7).Women who suffer from BN tend to also suffer from a poor self image. When negative emotions and negative self-evaluation are coupled together, women attempt to remove or to block such distressing emotions and cognitions. Thus, this disorder is characterized by secondary avoidance. Women with BN do not lack the ability to recognize simple minded tasks or cognitions. Yet, they do have impaired inference of their own and others’ emotions when it comes to interpersonal situations. Not only are these women more sensitive to negative emotions, but they also tend to respond to these emotions with rash and urgent behavior when they …show more content…
In fact, women with BN are four times more likely than women without BN to start using drugs or to binge drink (14). Though physical health is often maintained in BN patients, medical morbidity is typical. These morbidities include electrolyte abnormalities, parotid gland swelling, and loss of dental enamel (15). Still, the most serious complication associated with BN is suicide.Women with BN who have attempted suicide previously are at the greatest risk for taking their own lives. However, the risk of previous suicidal attempts tends to also include a previous low BMI as another risk for suicide among BN patients. This suggests that women who commit suicide may have suffered from AN prior to BN (16). Women with AN have higher rates of successful suicide attempts than do women with BN, possibly because AN sufferers are more physically compromised than those with BN. Thus, these women are much more likely to die. Still, attempted suicide remains one of the most reliable predictors for suicide risk (17). Therefore, because BN patients have a significant association with suicide independent of any comorbid conditions, the risk of suicide remains a prominent and escalating complication of this disorder. The article by Bodell et al. did not specify
In Andre Dubus’ The Fat Girl, Louise is a young adolescent with detrimental eating habits and broken self-esteem. Her lack of self-confidence stems from her atrocious emotional habitat. Louise receives constant criticism from her mother regarding her weight. Her mother states “If you are fat the boys won’t like you.” That kind of ridicule being said by a mother to her 9 year old daughter creates an atmosphere of self-hatred and self-loathing. It is not only her familial environment that contributes so greatly to Louise’s destructive behavior. She has few friends and the one’s she does have agree she needs to change. The society in which she lives also is a contributing factor; the society is laden with stigmas positioned on appearance. That manner of daily ridicule only introverts Louise even more, causing her secretive, binge eating to deteriorate. In research conducted by Ursula Polli-Potts PhD, Links between Psychological Symptoms and Disordered Eating behaviors in Obese Youths, she explains the correlation between psychological, emotional factors and eating disorders in overweight adolescents. Potts states, “The association between binge eating symptoms and eating in response to feelings of distress and sadness with depression/anxiety symptoms corresponds with the results of other studies.” Potts and her colleagues took overweight adolescents and placed them into control and variable groups to ensure correct data. The outcome of their research was that there is a direct correlation with emotional binge eating and psychological factors. Although more extensive research needs to be implemented, Potts and associates were pleased with the results of the case studies.
Although Brandy does not go on direct binges, she does pig out on candy and related junk food occasionally. Second, she tries to eat healthy and has defaulted to purging in order to stay skinny. Therefore, Brandy meets the second condition on the DSM-5 checklist for bulimia nervosa: “inappropriate behavior in order to prevent weight gain” (Comer, 2013, p.320). Nonetheless, instead of her symptoms lasting longer than a week, the side-effects of her condition continue endlessly. Lastly, all the signs and symptoms negatively impact Brandy’s self-esteem and self-concept. One could say the entire problem has an “undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation” (Comer, 2013, p.320). For example, Brandy believes no one wants to be around her because they are disgusted by her weight and overall appearance. Therefore, she shuts herself off from her friends and society. When individuals start paying too much attention, she begins to feel nervous and
However, these views don’t take social process into consideration. Therefore, they organized a self-help group for bulimics and anorexics known as BANISH in order to determine what societal aspects cause these disorders. The author’s group consisted mostly of college age females which is significant because this is group primarily affected by these disorders. Interestingly, the backgrounds of the women in the BANISH group are strikingly similar in that they are excellent students, good children who have very close parental relationships, from “functional” families - all having been brought up with an emphasis on thin physical appearance. The authors also allude to the fact that in today’s society, slimness is considered attractive and most worthy, while being overweight is viewed as both morally and physically wrong. Society labels heavy people as “lazy, obscene, and unhealthy”. (244) It is noted that when members of the group lost weight, they reported feeling more accepted and
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
The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders: Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions. Pub No. 01-4901. Accessed Feb. 2002.
...ing in bulimia nervosa: A crossover study. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 177, 259-266.
Bulimia nervosa is another eating disorder that includes a behavior pattern of alternating extreme bingeing, or overeating, with self-induced vomiting, fasting or abuse of laxatives or diuretics. Eating in a short period of time and having a sense o...
As defined by the National Eating Disorders Association, “Anorexia Nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.” (NEDA). The term “Anorexia Nervosa” literally means “neurotic loss of appetite”, and could be more generally defined as the result of a prolonged self-starvation and an unhealthy relationship regarding food and self-image. It is characterized by “resistance to maintaining body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height”, “intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”, even though underweight”, “disturbance in the experience of body weight or shape, undue influence of weight or shape on self-evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of low body weight”, and “loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty.”(NEDA) Among women on a range of 15 to 24 years old, AN has been proved to have 12 times the annual mortality rate of all death causes, and from premature deaths of anorexic patients, 1 in every 5 is caused by suicide, which gives a rise of 20% for suicide probability. (EDV)
Anorexia nervosa is characterized by refusal to maintain body weight over a minimum level considered normal for age and height, along with distorted body image, fear of fat and weight gain, and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation). Bulimia nervosa is characterized by binge eating followed by purging. These behaviors should occur at least twice a week for three months. Binge eating disorder typically occurs in patients who binge but do not purge. One must have bulimic episodes at least two days a week for six months but must not fit the criteria for bulimia nervosa. Eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) includes a wide array of eating disturbances that do not fall into the anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating diagnosis. Anorexia athletics features an intense fear of becoming fat even though one is at least 5 percent below the expected normal weight range. Also, excessive exercising, restrictive energy intake, use of laxatives or diuretics, as well as planned binge eating (even around training schedules) all classify anorexia athletics. (Sundgot-Borgen, 1994)
In civilized societies, there are continuous prizing of thinness than ever before. Occasionally, almost everyone is watchful of their weight. Individuals with an eating disorder take extreme measures to concern where they ultimately shift their mode of eating, this abnormal eating pattern threatens their lives and their well-being. According to Reel (2013), eating disorders are continually misapprehended as all about food and eating. However, there is more to that as the dysfunction bears from emotion concealing a flawed relationship with food, physical exercise and oneself. Persons with eating disorders convey fault-finding, poor self- esteem and intense body discontent. This can lead to extreme distress of gaining weight,
Today, America is plagued with eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Compulsive Eating Disorders. Each has its own characteristics that distinguish the illness yet there are some similarities that they also share. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, as with most mental illnesses, eating disorders are not caused by just one factor but by a combination of behavioral, biological, emotional, psychological, interpersonal and social factors. Shockingly, they also report that in the United States, there are as many as 10 million females and 1 million males that are battling with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia. Additionally, another 25 million are struggling with binge eating disorders (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org). Typically, psychological factors such as depression and low self-esteem contribute to eating disorders...
An eating disorder is characterized when eating, exercise and body image become an obsession that preoccupies someone’s life. There are a variety of eating disorders that can affect a person and are associated with different characteristics and causes. Most cases can be linked to low self esteem and an attempt to, “deal with underlying psychological issues through an unhealthy relationship with food” (“Eating Disorders and Adolescence,” 2013). Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood, with females being most vulner...
In 1978, Brunch called anorexia nervosa a 'new disease' and noted that the condition seemed to overtake ?the daughters of the well-to-do, educated and successful families.? Today it is acknowledged and accepted that anorexia affects more than just one gender or socio-economic class; however, much of the current research is focused on the female gender. ?Anorexia nervosa is characterized by extreme dieting, intense fear of gaining weight, and obsessive exercising. The weight loss eventually produces a variety of physical symptoms associated with starvation: sleep disturbance, cessation of menstruation, insensitivity to pain, loss of hair on the head, low blood pressure, a variety of cardiovascular problems and reduced body temperature. Between 10% and 15% of anorexics literally starve themselves to death; others die because of some type of cardiovascular dysfunction (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.