Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. People with bulimia eat large amounts of food in a short period of time and then purge through vomiting, laxative abuse, or excessive exercise. It is caused by a combination of genetic, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. Treatment involves nutritional counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, and learning to develop a healthy relationship with food and one's body. Regular physical activity can help reduce symptoms and support recovery when used appropriately as part of a treatment plan.

1. Bulimia Nervosa
By: Sarah Abughrib & Adriana Hidalgo

2. What is Bulimia?
 Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is
characterized by alternating episodes of binging and
purging. The person will eat a lot of food in a short
period of time and then purge the food by inducing
vomiting, taking laxatives or exercising excessively.

3. Other Eating Disorders
 Anorexia Nervosa- An emotional disorder
characterized by an obsessive desire to lose
weight by refusing to eat.
 Anorexia Athletica- Anorexia athletica is an
addiction to exercise. The person with anorexia
athletica no longer enjoys exercising, but feels
obligated to do so.

4. What Causes Bulimia?
 Inherited genes
 Peer pressures
 Family attitudes
 Media portrayal
 Poor self esteem issues

5. Two Specific Types
Purging Non-Purging
 During the current  During the current
episode of bulimia episode of bulimia
nervosa, the person nervosa, the person has
has regularly engaged used other
in self-induced inappropriate
compensatory
vomiting or the
behaviors, such as
misuse of fasting or excessive
laxatives, diuretics, or exercise, but has not
enemas regularly engaged in
self-induced vomiting or
the misuse of

6. Symptoms How to Recognize Bulimia
 Bloating and irregular bowel
function  Bulimia is a secretive disease
because it cannot be detected
 Signs of dehydration
easily in victims.
 Dry skin
 Note unrealistic body image
 Damaged teeth and gums, due standards.
to the over exposure of acid
 Notice coloration and sores on
during purging
the fingers and mouth.
 Sores in the mouth and throat
 Large food intake with no
 Constant dieting weight gain.
 Exercising excessively  Frequent bathroom visits
 Going to the bathroom during directly after eating.
immediately after meals
 Having a negative body image
 Depression, anxiety

7. Statistics
 About 2% of all adolescents and young women are bulimic.
 5-15% of all adult women have some symptoms of the disorder.
 64% of all bulimics have a near-normal body weight
 70% of all bulimics also suffer from moderate to severe depression.
 Statistics on bulimia tell us that people with bulimia binge, on
average, 11 times per week.
 Homosexual males are more likely to develop bulimia than
heterosexual males.
 Half of all anorexics also develop bulimic tendencies.
 In up to 60% of cases, patients with bulimia nervosa report prior
histories of anorexia nervosa.
 In Western society, eating disorders occur primarily among
Caucasian women. Women of color seem less prone to eating
disorders because thinness isn’t a requirement in beauty, since role
models for them would be of average size or even overweight.

9. History of Bulimia
 Bulimia was first described in ancient Roman times
when citizens forced themselves to purge in order to
prolong their enjoyment of a heavy meal.
 In 1903, a French psychiatrist Pierre Janet was one of
the first to publish a description of a patient who
binged and purged but never lost her appetite.
 Also, an American physician Albert Stunkard, an
expert on obesity, identified bulimia in contemporary
terms in 1959, but for many years the illness was
considered a variation of anorexia.
 It wasn’t until the late 1980’s that bulimia was
recognized as a distinct disorder, and by 1987 it was
finally given the term bulimia nervosa.

10. Binge Eating
 Bulimia nervosa is characterized by frequent episodes
of binge eating associated with emotional distress and
a sense of loss of control.
 Binge eating: Eating an extremely large amount of
food in a short period of time. The person recognizes
their loss of control of eating during this time.
 Overeating episode: The consumption of an unusually
large amount of food in a defined period. The person
doesn’t realize they’ve lost control of how much they
eat.
 Subjective bulimic episode: The consumption of
objectively minimal amounts of food in a defined
period with a perception of loss of control.

11. Bulimic Cycle

12. Exams and Tests
 Dental exams may show gum infections (such as gingivitis)
Enamel of the teeth may be worn away due to the constant
exposure of acid in the vomit.
 Doctors will:
-Ask for your medical history reports.
-Request a physical exam to check your heart, lungs, blood
pressure, weight, mouth, skin, and hair for diet problems.
-Screen questions about your eating habits and how you feel
about your health.
-A mental health assessment to check for depression or anxiety.
-X-rays which can show whether your bones have weakened by
malnutrition

13. Physical Activity
As it relates to Bulimia

14. Physical Activity
 Exercise Bulimia: Similar
to Anorexia
Athletica, Exercise
Bulimia is a disorder in
which a person is
compelled to exercise; in
an effort to burning
calories of food energy
and fat reserves. This is
done to an excessive
level that negatively
affects their health.

15. Treatment
 The successful treatment of bulimia includes both medical and
psychological treatment.
 About 80% of bulimics who receive treatment achieve remission
within three months. However, relapse is common.
Treatment Options:
 Nutritional Counseling
 Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
 Interpersonal therapy
 Self-Help
 Medication

16. Exercise Plan
 In creating your exercise plan, you’re making a plan
that works for you, not one that is favored by others.
Being positive and enjoying your work out is a closer
step to an efficient recovery.
Warm up Work Out Cool Down
Monday, 5-10 minute Doing an 5-10 minute
Wednesday stretch activity you stretch
& Friday enjoy for
about 30
minutes.
Tuesday & 5-10 minute Higher 5-10 minute
Thursday stretch intensity, stretch
work out will
be for about
15-20
minutes.

17. Steps to Recovery
 Admit you have a problem- The first step in bulimia
recovery is admitting that your relationship to food is
distorted and out of control.
 Talk to someone- Find a good listener—someone
who will support you as you try to get better.
 Stay away from people, places, and activities that
trigger the temptation to binge and purge- You may
need to avoid looking at fashion or fitness magazines,
spend less time with friends who constantly diet and
talk about losing weight, and stay away from weight
loss web sites.
 Seek professional help- The advice and support of
trained eating disorder professionals can help you
regain your health, learn to eat normally again, and
develop healthier attitudes about food and your body.

18. How does Physical Activity help?
 Regular exercise can be
one of the most effective
techniques to treat
virtually any disorder.
 Physical activities such as
horseback
riding, bicycling, hiking, co
mpetitive sports, and
virtually any other form of
exercise can serve as a
distraction and positive
addition to the life of
someone who is
recovering from an eating
disorder.

19. Prevention
 Early treatment may be the best way to prevent
the disorder from progressing.
Way to Prevent Bulimia:
• Balancing school, work, social life, rest, and
exercise
• Maintenance of good mental health
• A positive self-image of the body
• Knowledge and maintenance of healthy eating
habits

20. Conclusion (Bulimia in a Glance)
 Bulimia Nervosa is a psychological eating disorder.
 There are two types of bulimia: the purging and non
purging types.
 It can have serious medical complications.
 The successful treatment of bulimia is often
multidisciplinary, involving both medical and
psychological approaches.
 The goals of treatment are to restore physical health
and normal eating patterns.
 Early treatment may be the best way to prevent the
disorder from progressing.

21. Thank You!
;)