Bulimia Nervosa is defined by frequent chapters of binge eating followed by throwing up or regurgitation. The goal from that is to not gain weight from excessive eating. People with Bulimia Nervosa are obsessed with their body shape and weight. Being obsessed with their body and weight can lead to their self-esteem and self-worth being defined by their looks. The reasons for developing Bulimia Nervosa are different for many people. No case is the exact same and it effects everyone different. Some known causes include but, are not limited to, genetic predisposition and a mixture of environmental, social and cultural influences. Someone with Bulimia Nervosa can be lost in a dangerous series of eating out of control and tries to compensate for that which can lead to feelings of disgust, guiltiness, and shame. These activities can become more habitual and uncontainable and lead to being obsessed with food, thoughts about eating (or not eating), weight …show more content…
These behaviors or habits are frequently covered and people will do everything in their power and go to great lengths to keep their habits secret. Bulimia Nervosa can go unnoticed for a long time. People with it experience weight fluctuations and don’t lose weight. They can stay in their normal weight range, be somewhat underweight, or may even gain a significant amount of weight. Having awareness about Bulimia Nervosa and knowing its warning signs and symptoms can make a noticeable difference to the harshness and extent of the illness. Getting help when you see the first warning sign will help you in the long run and will be more effective than waiting until it’s too late and the sickness takes over. If you or someone you know is displaying a blend of these signs, it is very important to pursue help and support as soon as possible. The warning signs of Bulimia Nervosa can be physical, psychological 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
First, let’s take a look at the meaning of bulimia nervosa. According to Psychology Today, bulimia nervosa is characterized by
Bulimia nervosa is a chronic psychiatric disorder that haunts the lives of many young women. The disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by some sort of purging. The purging usually involves self-induced vomiting and can cause great damage to the body. Persons diagnosed with bulimia nervosa have a loss of control over these behaviors. Affecting the lives of 3-5% of young women, bulimia is a problem that is spinning out of control and nothing seems to be able to stop it. Binge eating disorder is another psychiatric disease that causes problems for many people. In this disorder, persons binge frequently but do not attempt to compensate for their eating by using purging techniques such as those used by persons suffering from bulimia nervosa.
Bulimics tend to be average size, but anorexics look very underweight. Bulimics can be an average weight because even though they are purging, they do not purge everything completely. Some bulimics for example, they eat something healthy like carrots. Later throughout their day they will feel the urge to binge. Once they have binged they feel the need to purge because guilt overpowers them. When they are purging, they purge until they see the carrots. Many bulimics think that by doing it this way that everything is fine, but it is still not good for your teeth and esophagus. Many bulimics can stay a good weight by purging this way. Aside from bulimics maintaining an average weight, anorexics are very underweight. Anorexics barely eat, or stay on strict diets. For example, they will eat very little fruit or vegetables and they will have more liquid-type foods like soup, nothing solid. The calories from eating these foods total up to barely enough to make sure your body functions properly. By eating like this, it does not give you enough energy and you lose a lot of muscle mass, and that is why they look so thin. This is not the only difference between bulimia and anorexia, the way that they look at their problems is different as
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 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...
Symptoms of bulimia can be quite invisible because the bulimic can maintain normal weight. Occasionally, patterns of behavior may signal a problem: Do they restrict certain food? Do they eat in a ritualistic way? Are they overly concerned with diet? Do they weigh themselves every day? Do large quantities of food disappear from the refrigerator? Do they visit the bathroom soon after meals or frequently? (Negri).
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) was the first eating disorder to be classified, with some specific diagnostic criteria developed in the 1970s (Fairburn & Brownell, 2002). AN is a serious psychiatric disorder in terms of aetiology and epidemiology. 0.48% of prevalence of AN is estimated in girls who fall under the 15-19 age group (Lock et al., 2012). In AN, pathological thoughts and behaviours concerning food and weight, as well as emotions about appearance, eating and food co-occur (Lock et al., 2012). These thoughts, feelings and behaviours lead to changes in body composition and functions that are the direct results of starvation (Lock et al., 2012). The illness in adolescents causes severe affects physically and emotionally, and affects the social development of the individual. The causes of AN are not known but most of the researchers and clinicians agree that AN has multiple determinants (Garner et al., 1982) that emerge in a developmental sequence. Many physiological symptoms, common to semi-starvation irrespective of causes such as depressed mood, irritability, social withdrawal, loss of sexual libido, preoccupation with food, obsessional ruminations and rituals, as well as reduced alertness and concentration are also associated with Anorexia nervosa (Fairburn & Brownell, 2002). The illness is also associated with premorbid perfectionism, introversion, poor peer relations, and low self-esteem (Fairburn & Brownell, 2002). Patients suffering from AN, are also known to suffer from other physical consequences of starvation and other weight losing behaviours. The body’s response to starvation includes bone marrow suppression with increased susceptibility to overwhelming infection, which in the longer term may lead to health consequences s...
Bulimia is an eating disorder which affects many people in America. It's a tragic disorder that can have serious health issues and even lead, eventually, to death. It's easy to make assumptions about what it's like to live with such a problem, but a lot of what you believe could be myth. Here are some of the most common wrongful assumptions about bulimia.
...nts recover completely. Bulimia nervosa patients often do not seek help. When they do, antidepressant medication and psychotherapy are given. Women with this disorder tend to improve overtime, but 10 years after diagnosis, about thirty percent still suffer with the condition. (Alters & Schiff, 2003, pp.36-38)
When defining what it means to be an anorexic or a bulimic, the general population may not know the difference between the two. The concept of eating through bulimia, unlike anorexia, is very different; however the end-results of both are undoubtedly similar. Bulimia nervosa is the compulsive act of binge eating, a spree of over-eating large amounts of foods at one time. The person is able to consume around “3,000 to 5,000 calories in one short hour” (Segal & Smith, 2014). After the binge episode is over, the person immediately resorts to self-induce vomiting, intake of laxatives, or hard-hitting exercise for the fear of gaining weight. Historically, bulimia was not always seen as a disorder that equaled to having an unhealthy habit; it was actually the exact opposite to how society views it today. For ancient Romans, vomiting after a meal was quite normal as it was used to “make room for more feasting” (Williams, 2011). Eating large amounts of food in those times signified one’s wealth; therefore, the act of purging was related to that richness of status. Other cultures would use purgation as a remedy for many diseases as it was natural to assume that human illnesses came from the food that was eaten (Williams, 2011). Thus, the intentionality of these acts was medically-related and would aid in the relief of pain and sickness. However, those motives are non-existent and today’s modern views of bulimia are not seen as beneficial by any means.
There are countless health problems that an eating disorder can lead to. However; if caught in time, professional assistance can help a person to overcome a disorder. I personally feel invested in this topic because my best friend developed an eating disorder. It was hard for me to see how much she hated the way she looked. I watched her weight drop to an unhealthy size in a matter of months. Thankfully, with the help of therapy, she has since moved past it. Learning the signs and characteristics of an eating disorder can aid in identifying individuals at risk. If you are suspicious that someone you know could have an eating disorder, it is important you talk to them about it. The results of eating disorders being caught early on could be the difference between life and death.
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 is marked by significant cycles in eating habits. Bulimics will often starve themselves (calorie/food/fat intake restriction -- sometimes with the help of diet pills or supplements) for extended periods of time prior to a massive binge, during which they consume abnormal amounts of food in a short period of time. These binges are followed by purging, which generally is constituted by self-induced vomiting. Other methods of purging the body include the use of diuretics, laxatives, and excessive exercising. Bulimics are generally within what is considered to be a "normal" weight range, but see themselves as being overly fat, or suffer from an intense fear of gaining weight. They often do realize that they have a problem, but by that point the cycle has become an obsession. Bulimics usually weigh themselves frequently, even several times daily.
Eating disorders are a serious health problem. Personal Counseling & Resources says that eating disorders "are characterized by a focus on body shape, weight, fat, food, and perfectionism and by feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem." Three of the most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating or compulsive eating disorder. According to Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, a person with anorexia "refuses to maintain normal body weight for age and height" and "weighs 85 percent or less than what is what is expected for age and height." A person diagnosed with bulimia has several ways of getting rid of the calories such as binge eating, vomiting, laxative misuse, exercising, or fasting. The person might have a normal weight for their age and height unless anorexia is present. The signs of a compulsive eater include eating meals frequently, rapidly, and secretly. This person might also snack and nibble all day long. The compulsive eater tends to have a history of diet failures and may be depressed or obese (Anred.com).