Bulimia Essay

Anorexia and Bulimia Essay
Each year millions of people in the United States are affected by serious and sometimes
life–threatening eating disorders. The vast majorities are adolescents and young adult women.
Approximately one percent of adolescent girls develops anorexia nervosa, a dangerous condition in
which they can literally starve themselves to death. Another two to three percent develop bulimia
nervosa, a destructive pattern of excessive overeating followed by vomiting or other " purging
" behaviors to control their weight. These eating disorders also occur in men and older women,
but much less frequently. The consequences of eating disorders can be severe. For example, one in
ten anorexia nervosa leads to death from starvation, cardiac arrest, or...show more content...
In–patients with anorexia, starvation can damage vital organs such as the heart and brain. To
protect itself, the body shifts into " slow gear ": monthly menstrual periods stop,
breathing, pulse and, blood pressure rates drop, and thyroid function slows. Nails and hair become
brittle, the skin dries, yellows, and becomes covered with soft hair called lanugo. Excessive thirst
and frequent urination may occur. Dehydration contributes to constipation, and reduced body fat
leads to lowered body temperature and inability to with stand cold. Mild anemia, swollen joints,
reduced muscles mass, and light headedness also commonly occur in anorexia. If the disorder
becomes severe, patients may lose calcium from their bones, making them brittle and prone to
breakage. Scientists from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) have also found that
patients suffer from other psychiatric illnesses. They may suffer from anxiety, personality or
substance abuse disorders, and many are at a risk for suicide. Obsessive compulsive disorder, an
illness characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors, can also accompany anorexia.
Bulimia nervosa patients– even those of normal weight– can severly damage their bodies by frequet
binge eating and purging. In rare instances, binge eating causes the stomach to rupture; purging may
result in heart failure due to loss of vital minerals, such
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Bulimia Nervosa and Anorexia Nervosa Essay
Eating disorders are extremely harmful and rising in prevalence. . The two most common eating
disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. In this essay, I will compare and contrast
these two disorders. This essay will also assess the symptoms, causes, health affects and the most
prevalent characteristics of people diagnosed with these two eating disorders.
"Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by self–starvation to avoid obesity. People with this disorder
believe they are overweight, even when their bodies become grotesquely distorted by
malnourishment." (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia) Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa include:
heart muscle damage, heartbeat irregularities, low blood pressure, kidney damage, kidney failure,
...show more content...
They often will use dietary aids to purge the unwanted calories from binge eating. In this stage of the
purging process, individuals with Anorexia Nervosa will self–induce vomiting like individuals with
Bulimia Nervosa. (Schullherr, Eating Disorders For Dummies)
Teenagers are the most common age group of those affected. According to Starvation Nation,
Doctor's in Denver, Colorado say no demographic is safe, and medical professionals are scrambling
to combat what has become a burgeoning public health crisis. (Moura)
"Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by massive food binges followed by self–induced vomiting or use
of diuretics and laxatives to avoid weight gain." (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia) Common
symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa include: damage to your heart or cardiac functionality, liver damage,
kidney failure, damage to the esophagus, damage to the functioning of your gastrointestinal system
and damage to tooth enamel. (Schulherr, Eating Disorders For Dummies) Bulimia Nervosa has a
negative affect on your health like Anorexia Nervosa. Self–soothing with food may cause the
individual to become overweight. Individuals with Bulimia Nervosa associate food as the only thing
that provides them comfort. The individual with Bulimia Nervosa will purge the food to get their
weight under control. Individuals that suffer from Bulimia Nervosa often have self–esteem issues
because of constantly keeping their eating disorder a secret. According

Research Paper On Bulimia
Bulimia Bulimia is an eating disorder followed by frantic efforts to avoid eating. Strugging with
bulimia is a contant battle between the desire to lose weight or wanting not to gain weight. How
might people get bulimia As the tension. Hunger, and feelings of deprivation build, the
compulsion to eat becomes too powerful to resist a forbidden food is eaten, a dietary rule is
broken. When you are thinking to change into a new diet in the back of you hand there is a voice
telling you that you can always throw up or use laxatives and this can make you lose control of what
you are eating. Sympotoms Binge eating signs –lack of control over eating –secrecy surrounding
eating –eating unusually large amounts of food –disappearance of food –alternating between
overeating and fasting a feeling of being out od control during the binge–eating purging signs –going
to the bathroom after they eat –excessive exercising –smell of vomit using laxatives, diuretics, or
enemas physical signs –not underweight –calluses or scars on the knuckles or hands –puffy cheeks
–not under weight –frequent fluctuations in weight Statistics –admit that you have prombles with
eating –talk to someone –stay away form the people that are telling to do the wrong things –go see a
doctor –They do not feel good about their self esteem What does bumlimia hurt you

Bulimia Nervosa Case Study Paper
After review of Andrea's case study, consideration of symptoms, and history my diagnosis is
Bulimia Nervosa F50.2 in partial remission. Andrea presented signs of a feeding disorder. All other
feeding disorders were ruled out due to either symptoms or time frame. Differential diagnosis
included Binge Eating disorder F50.8, but ruled out because it was mentioned Andrea engaged in
inappropriate compensatory behaviors such use of prescribed and illicit drugs, and diuretics.
Andrea met criteria for All aspects of Bulimia Nervosa in section a both 1 and 2; eating within a
discrete period of time, and the sense of over eating during the episode (American Psychiatric
Association, 2013). Also meeting criteria in section B, C, D, and E. Recurrent compensatory...show
more content...
Having also both delusions and disorganized speech. Brian had no prior marked stressors occur
prior to onset of symptoms and his onset seemed to be sudden. Category C was met by ruling out
substance abuse, mood affective disorders such as major depressive disorder, and catatonia. Brief
Psychotic onset can occur in early adulthood. To support a diagnosis of Brief Psychotic Disorder
one must take into effect a person's cultural background, and family practices such as religion. For
example, someone praying allowed can be viewed as speaking to themselves, or in some cultures
it being the norm to state one "heard from God". While this could mean not actually hearing
voices but a spiritual form of guidance. Religion must also be taken into consideration when
crediting or discrediting someone's beliefs as delusional. In Martin's case his delusions were of
aliens conspiring with his family to kill him and could not be confused with religious beliefs. It
was clear he was suffering from delusions. It is also important to take into account any family
history of psychotic disorders. Martin's aunt suffered from erratic behavior and had been in and out
of the hospital for years. It is also important to take into account any preexisting personality disorder
traits which can predispose a person to develop the disorder (American Psychiatric Association,

Personal Narrative: Anorexia And Bulimia
I'm perfect. At least that's what my friends and family use to say. Tall, skinny, athletic, and smart.
What more could someone want?
The summer before junior year was one of the worst times of my life. Everywhere I went people
would ask if I was a model, and had shocked expressions when I said no. Hearing this as often as I
did, I developed an image in my mind of what I needed to look like. At 5'10 and 145 pounds I
needed to weigh 125. I needed my waist smaller. I had to have more defined muscles. In the back of
my mind, I knew I had developed an eating disorder, but it never fit the criteria for anorexia or
bulimia.
There would be periods, usually a week–long, where I wouldn't eat. I would later get hungry and
start binging and hide food in my room. My mom and dad would find the stashes of food tucked
away, and I'd be grounded. I felt so ashamed that I'd stop eating again. It was a vicious cycle that I
I answered questions and filled out forms to decide how severe the situation was. The results
showed it was serious, and my mom and I had to drive 45 minutes away to see a specialist. Seeing
the first doctor was mentally exhausting, I did not want to see a second doctor. I hated having to
admit that the perfect daughter wasn't perfect. I was a mess.
The specialist was a nice woman who made me feel less alone. She introduced me to the term
Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or EDNOS. EDNOS is the most common eating
disorder, but also the one no one knows about. She helped me set up a plan with a nutritionist and a
therapist. She gave me hope that I could overcome my issues, and made me feel normal again.
It took awhile for me to recover, and it wasn't easy. There were relapses, but my friends and family
were always there helping me. I owe a great deal to my friends. They helped me more than they
realize, and I'm forever grateful to have them in my

Anorexia Vs Bulimia Essay
Thirty million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder (eatingdisordercenter.org).
The two most common are bulimia and anorexia. These diseases are frequently confused due to their
similarities. Although they are alike, they have a few significant differences. The similarities are
both diseases are about control and strength, they cause serious health risk, affect the same group of
people and have no known cause. Their differences are the way the individuals gain control and the
physical characteristics of the people with these diseases.
While bulimia and anorexia are eating disorders, they aren't necessarily about the food. People who
suffer from bulimia and anorexia lack a sense of control and strength in their everyday life
(Suszynski). Through not eating, bingeing and purging, these individuals feel like they have control
over their weight and/or what is going into their body. Not only does this provide...show more
content...
These health risks include many heart problems, dehydration, low blood pressure, and kidney
problems. Besides having the same the health risk, they also affect the same general group of
people. A study showed that 95% of the people diagnosed with an eating disorder were women ages
15–24 (diffen.com). At these ages, women are going through or have gone through puberty.
During that time period, women are susceptible to the pressures of media and society to look a
certain way. Although there are no known direct causes of eating disorders, studies have found
connections with family history and stress. A person is ten times more likely to have anorexia if
they have a family member with the disease. Bulimia and anorexia are also linked to stress.
According another study, eating disorders develop as a way to handle stress and anxiety. 55% of
high school and college students have high amounts of stress; this is why eating disorders are
commonly found in teens and young adults

Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa Essay
Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
Today, both anorexia and bulimia are the most common eating disorders and affect almost 15
percent of American teenagers. Eating disorders are fifteen times more likely to occur in adolescent
girls than adolescent boys. They can be fatal and thousands die from every year but this is one
mental illness that can be beaten. Anorexia is increasing more rapidly in developed countries than in
underdeveloped countries. Bulimia is becoming the more common type of eating disorder among
teens. It is difficult to diagnose because many bulimics are deeply ashamed of their rituals and few
share their problems with close friends (4). If these two eating disorders are becoming more and
more widespread around the world...show more content...
Losing the insulated layer has consequences such as sensitivity to temperature, dry skin, brittle hair,
vitamin deficiency, heart rate slows, and blood pressure falling due to the fact that the body maybe
adjusting to the loss of energy intake (1).
This behavior has biochemical disturbances as well, which have more serious implications. The
main disturbances are dehydration and changes in the levels of some electrolytes in the blood.
Potassium and chloride fall causing the blood to become alkaline producing a metabolic alkalosis.
Low levels of potassium and dehydration cause weakness and fatigue. Low body potassium and
alkalosis can cause irregular heartbeat and alterations in the electro–cardiogram. (1)
An anorexics biggest fear is becoming overweight and continue to think they are overweight even
after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange
eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will
prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it (5). The goal for an anorexic is to find
ways to avoid eating food and exercising for long hours in order to keep the pounds off.
Bulimia is known as the "binge–purge syndrome" and was once considered to be in the same
category of anorexia until recently. This syndrome mostly occurs in females starting in their late
teens and who say that episodes of binge

Anorexia and Bulimia Essay
Anorexia and Bulimia: A Concise Overview
As many as 20% of females in their teenage and young adult years suffer from anorexia nervosa or
bulimia nervosa (Alexander–Mott, 4). Males are also afflicted by these eating disorders, but at a
much lower rate, with a female to male ratio of six to one. Those with anorexia nervosa refuse to
maintain a normal body weight by not eating and have an intense fear of gaining weight. People with
bulimia nervosa go through periods of binge eating and then purging (vomiting), or sometimes not
purging but instead refraining from eating at all for days. Both of these disorders wreak havoc on a
person's body and mental state, forcing them to become emaciated and often...show more content...
And then I would find an isolated bathroom and atone for my sins" (K.D.K., 1).
Another factor contributing to anorexia and bulimia is social influence. "Historically, men are
judged more for what they do and women for how they look" (Costin, 46). Most ads and diet
products have been aimed at females in the past, but now are directed towards all people. Ads for
clothing and swimsuits portray incredibly thin models showing off their
Breaux 3
perfect bodies, and many people are lead to believe that beauty is measured in pounds. Amazingly,
most female fashion models are 23% below what is considered a healthy, normal body weight
(Costin, 45). Anorexics and bulimics wish to look like these models, and starve, binge, and purge in
an attempt to achieve their goal.. "Thinness has come to symbolize not only control, but
wealth, independence, and freedom" (Costin, 48). Anorexia and bulimia are a means for
losing weight, which means fitting in, which leads to acceptance – exactly what an anorexic or
bulimic is looking for.
Anorexia and bulimia do not distinguish between sex, skin color, or religious background. Women
living in the western hemisphere in their teens and early adult years, however, are afflicted with
eating disorders more than women anywhere else in the world (Costin, 47). Males can also be
anorexic or

The Physiology and Psychology of Bulimia Essay
The Physiology and Psychology of Bulimia
Bulimia is a disorder centered around an individual's obsession with food and weight. This
obsession involves eating large quantities of food, feeling guilty about the food consumption, and
taking drastic measures to prevent caloric/fat absorption. Measures vary with each individual and
include one or all of the following: forced vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive
exercise. This disease affects one to three percent of adolescent and young women in the United
States, and bulimic behaviors are displayed by ten to twenty percent of adolescent and young women
in the United States (http://dcs.engr.widener.edu/galla/gal la.htm).
In the studies of bulimia nervosa there is a...show more content...
One hypothesis suggests that bulimia nervosa is the behavioral manifestation of the underactivity of
serotonin. Serotonin is one of the hormones/neurotransmitters that regulates vital functions, such as
eating, in the central nervous system. It is also thought to be responsible for controlling states of
consciousness and mood. Serotonin is special: its own synthesis and release is enhanced by some
foods, suppressed by others, and unaffected by yet others. The effects are all dependent on nutritional
content. Transmitters are also affected by not eating. The brain easily detects how long an individual
has gone without food. These qualities enable serotonin–releasing neurons to control one type of
appetite: that for eating the appropriate amounts of carbohydrates and proteins. However, these same
neurons can cause food consumption to affect other behaviors linked with serotonin such as
sleepiness and environmental stimuli. They may also allow mood disturbances to override appetite
control mechanisms, causing an individual to eat unnecessarily (Winik 27–34).
Food should produce

Essay Bulimia Nervosa
BULIMIA NERVOSA 307.51 (F50.2)
Introduction
Individuals diagnosed with bulimia nervosa undertake frequent binge eating, followed by expelling
the food, typically by inducing vomiting, but also through exercising and the use of laxative agents,
diuretics, and enemas (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The binge eating occurrences are
often prompted by a negative perception of one's body image, temporarily alleviated by the binge
eating episode. Since the individual with bulimia nervosa is overanxious about body weight,
purging of the food is viewed as a necessity. This is in contrast to binge eating disorder, which does
not involve the purging of food after an excess of food consumption (Bulik et al., 2012).
Furthermore, although...show more content...
There is an additional feature that must be present alongside these symptoms in order for a patient
to be diagnosed with bulimia nervosa: any binge eating events followed by compensation needs to
be relatively frequent. Specifically, if these events take place at a minimum of one time per week –
over a 3 month timespan – then a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa may be made. Although these are the
symptoms that must be present in order for a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa to be made, there are
often other symptoms that accompany bulimia nervosa. Signs of psychosis have been found in
patients with eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (Miotto et al., 2010). Moreover, those with
bulimia nervosa frequently have the feeling that there is something flawed with their mind, and that
others are at fault for their problems (Miotto et al., 2010). In addition, there is evidence that a
feeling of loneliness is correlated with the occurrence of bulimia nervosa (Levine, 2012), highlighting
the psychological dynamics that are at play behind this disorder.
Causes of Bulimia Nervosa: from genetics to environment
The environmental and biological mechanisms that underlie bulimia nervosa have been researched
in some depth. The principle mechanisms that give rise to bulimia nervosa may be classified into
two groups: genetic variables at play and environmental factors that impact the patient.
There is a considerable body of evidence

Bulimia Research Paper
Bulimia Bulimia nervosa is mental illness where a person has a distortion of body image and has
an obsession with wanting to lose weight. Someone with bulimia will over eat and purge, what
will follow is a period of depression, and they will induce vomiting. After they consume a large
amount of food, they will have feelings of guilt or shame. This disease is self–diagnosable. A person
will binge eat then take steps to avoid gaining weight. Although they usually purge, they can exercise
excessively and fast. People may experience changes in behavior such as binge eating, compulsive
behavior, impulsivity, self–harm, vomiting after overeating, or lack of restraint. They will experience
changes in their whole body such as dehydration, fatigue, food aversion, hunger, or water–electrolyte
imbalances. Someone with bulimia will have anxiety, depression, feelings of guilt or mood swings.
There may be certain factors that are a part of the development of this disease. Genetic,
environmental, psychological, and cultural influences may play a part. Some main causes for
bulimia may be stressful transitions in a persons life, having a history of abuse or trauma, negative
body image, poor self–esteem, and being in a profession or being in activities that focus on a
persons appearance or their performance. Physical signs of bulimia nervosa are constant weight
fluctuations, electrolyte imbalance. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac
arrest, or death. Also broken blood vessels in the eyes, enlarged glands in the neck and under the
jaw line, oral trauma, chronic dehydration, inflamed esophagus, chronic gastric reflux after eating,
and infertility. Signs of binge eating and purging are disappearance of large amounts of food, eating
in secret, lack of control when eating, having periods of overeating all the time and fasting, frequent
use of the bathroom after eating, and smelling of

Bulimia Nervosa Essay
Bulimia Nervosa Within developmental lifespan psychology, eating disorders are often categorised
under the heading of 'adolescence problems' along with suicide, delinquency, substance misuse and
pregnancy. They are particularly associated with females, especially during the development stage
of adolescence when one's physical, cognitive and social development leaves childhood and enters
adulthood (Seifert et al, 1997: 333). It appears that young women are more dissatisfied with weight
than women at any other stage of the female lifespan. This is due to an increase in awareness of
their body shape and weight, therefore accounting for the large majority of eating disorder cases
being...show more content...
The bulimic sufferer periodically consumes huge amounts of food in short time spans, with little
control over consumption and with fearful thoughts about their inability to stop. An average bulimia
sufferer performs secret binges of 2,500 calories or more within a two–hour period, although reports
range from 1,200 to 55,000 calories (Johnson et al, 1982). These binges produce feelings of guilt,
leading the person to purge, with this behaviour often affecting work, social life, family and health.
Other psychologically straining problems include constant worry of being discovered, continuing
feelings of shame and the fatigue associated with this particular eating pattern. According to Pinel
(2003) bulimia is considered to be a psychiatric, rather than medical condition, characterised by
abnormal eating patterns and obsessions with food and weight. However, DSM–IV (1994) states
four specific symptoms needed to diagnose bulimia. They are recurrent episodes of binge eating,
recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour to prevent weight gain, the behaviour must occur
approximately twice a week for at least three months, and finally disturbance must not occur during
anorexia. The diagnostic criteria also notes specific types of bulimia (purging and non–purging),
with severity and frequency of symptoms

Essay about Bulimia
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. Bulimia affects a
variety of different people, but generally the victims will fall tend to fall into certain categories.
Those at highest vulnerability to this disease are young adult females, ages 12 to 18. The disease,
however, can start as early as elementary school, or much later...show more content...
Bulimics usually weigh themselves frequently, even several times daily. Bulimics also suffer from
an emotional cycle of guilt, pain, depression, and "highs." They feel pride when they succeed in
starving themselves; guilt, pain, and depression when they eat; and the "high" usually follows a
purge. The cycle becomes an emotional outlet. Bulimics are often perfectionists, those who feel
they have severe standards to live up to. Those who feel that they cannot control their lives may
turn to eating disorders as a means to feel in control of some aspect of themselves. They tend to
have an intense fear of becoming a failure, and letting others down. Many doctors and members of
society feel that society, with its media–fed images of beauty and perfection, is responsible for the
disease. Food becomes a night–and–day obsession, causing them to withdraw from their families, as
well as school and social lives. Bulimics will often refuse to eat in front of other people, and will
find any sort of excuse to avoid meals in groups. They may sneak food for bingeing when no one
else is around. Bulimics may sometimes run to the bathroom following any form of food intake. The
disease is habit–forming. Bulimia is a disease that affects the entire body, as well. The first marks
are often seen on the fingers and hands of the diseased individual. They will usually have small cuts,
calluses,

Anorexia vs. Bulimia Essay
Anorexia vs. Bulimia
According to Mary Pipher, PhD, "In a city of strangers, appearance is the only dimension available
for the rapid assessment of others. Thus it becomes incredibly important in defining value" (216).
"Beauty is a defining characteristic for American women" (Pipher 216). She later goes on to say that,
"When unnatural thinness became attractive, girls did unnatural things to be thin" (217). One of the
most common unnatural things girls did to be thin were develop two popular eating disorders such
as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. "A person may have anorexia nervosa when she diets to the point
of weighing only 85 percent of ideal weight" (Kirby 68). "Unlike the anorexic, who is excessively
thin, the bulimic is usually...show more content...
"Anorexics tend to be compliant, approval seeking, conflict avoiding, perfectionist, socially anxious,
and obsessive/compulsive, with average or above–average intelligence" (Kirby 69).
"The anorexic person has an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though she is
obviously underweight" (Kirby 68). Typical characteristics of an anorexic are, "skipping meals,
eating in ritualistic ways, grocery shopping or cooking for the entire household but will not eat,
always making excuses not to eat, becoming argumentative with people who try to help, having
trouble concentrating, denying anger and withdrawing into self and becoming socially isolated"
(Kirby 69).
In "Eating Disorders: When Dieting Goes Too Far," Amy Chen gives an adequate description of the
symptoms of anorexia:
Some symptoms of anorexia are the same as in starvation and severe weight loss.
Anorexics may have dry skin, dry hair, hair loss and easily chipped fingernails, growth of body hair
(lanugo), a severe drop in metabolic rate, disturbances in the heart's rhythm and rate, dangerously
low blood pressure and body temperature, cold hands and feet, constipation and digestive problems,
infertility, stunted growth in the young, and amenorrhea in women. Amenorrhea is defined as the
absence of the menstrual period for three consecutive cycles. The danger of amenorrhea is the high
increase in risk for thin, brittle bones (osteoporosis) and infertility. In severe anorexia, severe
chemical

Essay On Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is another eating disorder discussed in the DSM–5 (2013), that is most prevalent in
later adolescence and young adulthood in females (p. 437). In order for one to be diagnosed, one
must meet four criterion. Criteria A is recurrent episodes of binge eating characterized by the
following; eating in a discrete period of time (2 hours), and amount of food that is larger than most
individuals would eat in a similar period and the second a sense of lack of control over eating during
the episode (DSM–v, 2013, p. 346). Women who are bulimic tend to eat a vast amount of food in a
short period of time just to purge as a result. This intensity it of consuming, must happen in a
moderate amount of time in order to be considered bulimic. Better understood by Abraham (2008)
she states," an episode of binge eating occurs when the woman's resistance to eating fails and she
has an irresistible desire to eat" (p. 280). This type of behavior represents a sense of lack of control.
Women who binge have a hard time stopping and controlling what and how much they are
consuming.
Unlike Anorexia Nervosa, individuals with bulimia have the capability of recognizing when they are
wrong. Bulimics are typically ashamed of their behaviors and can...show more content...
Although some characteristics may exist in both disorders, there is certain criterion that makes them
distinct. The huge distinction between the two is the inappropriate compensatory behavior that
Bulimics exhibit (DSM–V, 2013). In other words, people who binge eat don't necessarily result in
getting rid of the food afterward. Another differential diagnosis would be someone who is Anorexia
nervosa, binge eating /purging types. As stated in the DSM–V (2013), "these types of behaviors can
look similar to one who is bulimic in the beginning stage of someone who is anorexic" (p.

WhatВґs Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia is a very sensitive subject to talk about, but also very important. There are over 200,000
cases of bulimia in the United States each year. There are many reasons as in why people start
having this eating disorder. Society is a big reason, the need to please everyone around. Bulimia
Nervosa does not only happen with girls, it also happens with boys. This disorder can start in the
early years of life, and can end in the last years of life. More females have this eating disorder, the
ratio is for every ten females a male is having this order disorder.
Bulimia Nervosa started in the early Greek years, people would purge themselves for three days
straight thinking that food had disease. Romans would tickle their throats...show more content...
People can recover from Bulimia Nervosa, even if they have had the problem for a long time. It
can take a long time to recover, but with the right help they can get past this problem. Furthermore,
patients also need a lot of support from their family members, friends, and all the people around
them. They need to know that they are not alone, and that they can get past it. When people are
recovering, they cannot go under a lot of stress and problems. If they start to feel that they are
causing problems they can start to binge and the treatment won't

Many young women suffer from eating disorders. Criticized and shamed by the many for their
body, weight, and looks, insecurities are abundant in these women. Especially female celebrities,
whom are constantly held to unreachable standards by the public. These insecurities can lead to a
plethora of psychological problems or disorders, including eating disorders. An eating disorder is
defined as "an illness that causes serious disturbances to your everyday diet, such as eating
extremely small amounts of food or severely overeating" by the National Institution of Mental
Health. In the past few years, many celebrities have come out as suffering from an eating disorder,
one of the more recent to be the pop star Kesha. One of the eating...show more content...
Therapy is often used. And oftentimes patients are submitted into a psychiatric ward for people
suffering with eating disorders. Bulimia Nervosa is the other eating disorder Kesha suffered from.
The APA describes bulimia as eating in "..excessive quantities, then [purging] their bodies of the
food and calories they fear by using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics; vomiting; or exercising."
Bulimia is more common in young women, but can also occur with young men. Because it involves
purging the food after eating, the person with the disorder is usually aware of the problem and can
feel guilty about it. The National Library of Medicine states that bulimia can be caused by a number
of things, including "genetic, psychological, trauma, family, society, or cultural factors." Symptoms
include immediate trips to the restroom after eating, excessive exercise, eating large amounts of food
in one sitting (binging), and using laxatives. Bulimia can cause dehydration, gingivitis, worn enamel
on the teeth, pancreatitis, tears in the esophagus, and broken blood vessels in the eyes. A person
with bulimia may only eat in secret, or eat large sums of food in one sitting. This can cause
discomfort and purging can either cause relief or guilt. Support groups, therapy, and antidepressants
may be used to treat a person with bulimia. Hospitalization or inpatient treatment is rarely necessary
unless another disorder accompanies the bulimia. Kesha

The Dangers of Bulimia Essay
The Dangers of Bulimia Janie races down the hallway of her home and runs into the bathroom.
She slams and locks the door behind her, turning up the radio full blast to assure that nobody will
hear. Janie quickly squeezes her eyes shut, preparing her for the discomfort that follows. On
impulse and routine, she quickly jams a finger down her throat and relieves herself of all the food
she has recently binged on. After she is all done, she stares in the mirror, and bursts into tears. "I
am so fat and worthless," she thinks to herself even though she is only 130 pounds. Janie sits on
the floor and pulls her knees tight to her chest, "I can't eat for a whole week because I am a stupid,
fat, ugly, pig!" However those were the...show more content...
According to Leigh Cohn, "bulimia is an addiction that takes over a persons thoughts and self
esteem. The longer the person is bulimic, the harder it is to quit" (19).There is a growing trend
toward bulimia. Even though more women are affected than men, the most common age of bulimics
range from 13–40 years of age. These people are commonly known to be high achievers or sports
players. One source from The Royal College of Psychiatrists states, "high achievers are affected
because they see bulimia as the missing link to the perfectism puzzle" (Internet). It's also
common for anorexics to turn bulimic because anorexics starve themselves. When they finally do
eat, they feel out of control and purge. In fact, 60% of all anorexics eventually turn bulimic.
There are several forms of bulimia. The most frequent form is binge and purge. Another form of
bulimia is when a person binges really badly, and then fasts for days. This form actually makes the
person gain weight because it will slow down their metabolism , and when they start eating again
they will actually gain weight. In a book entitled When Food's a Foe, the author suggests that
another form of bulimia occurs where a person is obsessed with over exercising is extremely
popular for athletes (32). There are many methods of purging, but the most common methods are:
self induced vomiting, over use of laxatives or diuretics, enemas, abuse of diet

Bulima Nervosa Essay
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a disease that predominately affects young females. Since the origination of its
medical definition various studies have been implemented to examine the cause of onset and effects
of bulimia nervosa. There have also been studies surveying the long–term outcome of bulimia
nervosa. These long–term studies have analyzed such relationships as age, employment status, social
status and marital status and bulimia nervosa. By using three scientific studies of long–term outcome
of bulimia nervosa, this paper will try and evaluate the research obtained and offer critical
suggestions to help further studies on this topic.
The first study, "Bulimia nervosa: a 5–year follow–up study," uses a follow up sample...show more
content...
Patients were assessed on four scales: Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), Hamilton Rating Scale for
Depression (HRSD), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HRSA) and Social Problem Questionnaire
(SPQ). The study considered such characteristics as age, employment status, marital status and
number of children, alcohol intake, mental health, weight, menstrual status, social class, social
outcome, anxiety and depression ratings and eating attitude rating.
Many of the results obtained from this study agreeably compare with those of other studies. Yet, this
study points out the difficulty of comparing such studies. The main complication being that the
criteria chosen to categorize outcome groups may differ from study to study. Twenty–five percent of
the sample still suffered from bulimia nervosa and fulfilled diagnostic criteria of the disease. The
number of members in the good outcome group contained 47.2% of the sample. Firstly, the study
provides further evidence supporting the view that symptomatically bulimia nervosa improves with
time (Johnson–Sabine, 1992). Secondly, this study contradicts the idea that bulimia nervosa is a
variant of affective disorder. Thirdly, the study found a correlation between the good outcome group
and fewer social problems. There was no significant association found between alcohol abuse and
outcome group. Finally, the study confirmed that sufferers of bulimia nervosa are best managed in
out–patient programs due

Persuasive Essay On Bulimia
Take yourself back to when you were 9, running around, careless about getting dirty, and craving
the sweets that you were forbidden to eat. Your mom wants you to eat every meal and your dad
says otherwise. You want to please both your mom and your dad but how are you, a nine–year–old
child supposed to choose between your mom and your dad? Now picture this, instead of being
outside playing in the dirt and burying your face in chocolate donuts, you're inside doing research.
Research on how to eat, but not gain the weight. You are researching this with your father's words in
the back of your head, "You need to watch what you eat and not eat so much, you don't want to be fat
like your mom." Bulimia is the solution that continues to cross the computer screen. But the question
is, is bulimia worth the pain that one must endure, just to avoid gaining weight? Bulimia causes you
to lose so much more than just weight.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder, which is also known as bulimia. According to co–directors of
the eating disorder clinic, McGilley and Pryor, bulimia is considered a mental or psychiatric
disorder with a physical manifestation that includes episodes of eating binges, followed by
purging to prevent weight gain. Episodes of binge eating include the rapid consumption of large
amounts of food in a short period of time. Not all binges consist of high calorie foods or foods big
in carbs, some consist of a wide variety of vegetables. Many people with bulimia often use other
ways to help lose weight or maintain a comfortable size for them. Some of the most commonly
used methods include fasting, excessive exercise, the misuse of diuretics, laxatives, and enamas.
They use fasting to avoid the calories all together as a whole. Excessive exercise, to eliminate the
calories that were consumed during the binge or even with normal meals. The misuse of diuretics,
diuretics are also known as water pills, which allows excess water to exit the body, therefore losing
any water weight that the body may have. Laxatives and enamas are used to speed the digestive
process and bowel movements. Although bulimia allows the body to lose weight, it does so with
negative factors which result in harmful outcomes.
Due to the

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