Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that consists of the distortion on one’s body image and an obsessive desire to lose weight. It involves binge eating which is the rapid ingesting of large amounts of food, commonly followed by vomiting, fasting, or purging that is accompanied by depression. An individual with bulimia will attempt to avoid weight gain by vomiting or using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. It is common to see a bulimic individual restrict their food intake or exercise excessively. The collective notion of a bulimic is that their self-worth and self-evaluation is strongly influenced by their weight or body shape. This disorder is not only mentally damaging but also takes a physical toll on the body. The physical …show more content…
While only that 2.6% are actually diagnosed as bulimic, up to 10% of women display symptoms of bulimia but do not meet the criteria to be diagnosed. Apart from the common misconception that only women develop eating disorders, it is reported that 10% of bulimics are males. I personally never gave any thought to males suffering from an eating disorder. I have always perceived that males with extra weight are more socially acceptable compared to women that carry extra weight, and that commonly men don’t view their image as defining to their value.
An interesting fact that I did not know is that 50% of individuals with an eating disorder abuse drugs and alcohol. It’s not shocking to me that bulimics would abuse drugs and alcohol, not only because it can be used as an escape from the world and themselves, but also because numerous drugs and alcohol effect appetite, usually in a negative way, aiding to weight loss. This disorder really is a never ending cycle. First the body distortion image develops, then the binge eating occurs, followed by guilt that leads to purging, vomiting, etc., which turns into depression that is commonly coped with through drugs, alcohol, or food, which in turn starts the cycle over again.
Like most disorders, having a good family and friend support group is important to overcoming or coping with bulimia. This became evident in this case study based off the fact that Amber felt unable to communicate
Eating disorders are in no way, to be considered “no big deal”. It affects the lives of many poor unsuspecting human beings and in some cases, fatally takes lives. This topic presents many things that most people don’t know. Such as the fact that bulimia nervosa has similar symptoms to using the drug heroin! Rotten teeth, pale and dry skin, and even failing organs are usually signs that someone may have bulimia. There are always key signs and factors to recognizing an eating disorder. Eating disorders are serious. We all should be aware of the affect it has on an individual, and if anyone knows or sees a person struggling with an eating disorder, outreaching and a simple hand in the right direction can save a life. Eating disorders get in the mind of an individual, then ruin the body, then finally ruin the mind.
According to the DSM-5, eating disorders are characterized by a persistent disturbance of eating–related behavior that results in non-normative eating patterns which leads to impaired physical and psychosocial functioning, (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating with inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Binge eating is described as eating an amount of food definitely larger than normal with a sense of lack of control. Compensatory behaviors include misuse of laxatives, self-induced vomiting, diuretics, fasting and excessive exercise, (Comer, 2014) . Another key feature is
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder distinguished by its psychological, physiological, developmental, and social components. The disorder is characterized by binge eating shortly followed by harmful compensatory behaviors, such as abuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas, stimulants, vomiting, fasting, or excessive exercise. This is known as the “Binge-Purge Cycle”. Unlike anorexia nervosa, those with bulimia nervosa fall within a normal or slightly overweight weight range and usually perform their eating disordered behaviors in secret due to the severe feelings of shame and disgust which accompany the binge-purge cycle. Due to the intensity of the combined mental and physical assault bulimia has on the body, complications of bulimia can stay with a patient long after recovery is achieved. Such complications include, but are not limited to: Decaying tooth enamel (tooth rot) due to the stomach acid constantly eroding the protective layering on the teeth; those who have suffered from this eating disorder for more than seven years (the average time of recovery for those with bulimia nervosa) have a great likelihood of rupturing either their stomach or
Bulimia Nervosa, also referred to as Bulimia, or Binge-Purge behavior, is an eating disorder in which an individual will engorge themselves with unusually large amounts of food in a short amount of time and purge later. Between eating binges, a person with Bulimia Nervosa will tend to restrict their caloric intake, and by their own preference select foods in which they believe are seemingly “low in calories”. Often, an individual may feel out of control during eating binges and even ashamed afterwards. Clinicians often refer individuals to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a specifically adapted version called CBT-BN, as well as primary and secondary care.
According to Strober and his Colleagues (2000) the first degree relatives of bulimic individuals, have found that the lifetime rate of having full bulimia individual, have found that the life time rate of having bulimia is much higher among those who are closely related to bulimic patients.
Bulimia nervosa is one kind of most observe digestion disease in which generally person eat large amount of food within short period of time. After taking food ,after person feel eiltty ownself so person try remove the excess food from body or sometime person do the long fasting and excessive amount of exercise (book). However, many author describe bulimia nervosa as a psychological disease (Rushing, Jones, & Carney,2003). This disorder more frequent present in young female particular when female reaches as puberty time.
The definition and categorization of bulimia nervosa (BN) are addressed in the beginning of the paper. As there are many medical concerns that influence and accompany treatment, a brief overview of these concerns is provided. Next, the focus shifts to the population most affected by the disorder and risk factors for development of BN. A discussion of co-occurring disorders follows due to the fact that BN sufferers often experience one or more co-occurring disorders or differential diagnoses that may further complicate a clinician’s plan for treatment.
According to the American Psychiatric Association (2013) bulimia nervosa is when a person has repeatedly binged when eating. During the binge phase, the person will have very little control over their actions and consume large amounts of food in a short period of time. Typically a person battling with bulimia will exhibit inappropriate behaviors to refrain from gaining weight by exercising excessively, using laxatives, vomiting, taking medications, diuretics, and fasting. It is required that the person continue these behaviors for at least once a week for three months, and there is a major
Another eating disorder that is common among adolescents is bulimia nervosa. According to Stöppler (2008), bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of secretive excessive eating, also known as bingeing, followed by methods of weight control such as self-induced vomiting (purging), abuse of laxatives and diuretics, or excessive exercise. Bulimia is also a psychological disorder, and the cycle of overeating and purging can quickly become and obsession similar to an addiction to drugs or other substances (Stöppler, 2008). Binge eating is usually not triggered by intense hunger from the individual, but more or so as a response to depression, stress, or other feelings related to body weight, shape, or food (Stöppler, 2008). Stöppler states that oftentimes the individual will feel a loss of control during the binge eating and the purging becomes a way to regain that loss of control (2008). According to Stöppler, a person diagnosed as bulimic must have all of that disorder's specific symptoms (2008). For a person to be classified as bulimic he or she must have all of the following symptoms: recurrent episodes of binge eating in which a minimum average of two binge-eating episodes a week for at least three months, a feeling of lack of control over eating during the binges, persistent concern of being overweight, and a regular use of one or more of the following to prevent weight gain (self induced vomiting, use of
There are also complications with eating disorders. These include “abnormalities in the lymbic system and high serotonin levels; they will also have difficulties in early feeding, family attitudes about a healthy body weight, family problems, alcoholic tendencies, and loss of self-confidence, sexual abuse, anxiety, and depression”(Ham). The reason that these individuals are vulnerable to these factors are because when having a self-esteem disorder and self-confidence disorder they often become susceptible to putting themselves in situations that make themselves feel better about the way that they look. Negative associations that occur in bulimics include; having scares on their hands or knuckles from inducing their own vomit, they have discolored teeth and bad breath from the constant vomiting, nose bleeds, sore throats and commonly the lack of a period in women (Hall & Cohn, 2010).
thoughts and self esteem. The longer the person is bulimic, the harder it is to quit” (19).
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as eating in a discrete period, of time (e.g., within any two hour period), and amount of food that is definitely larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances (DSM (5th ed., [DSM-5], American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). It can also be characterized as a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating) (DSM (5th ed., [DSM-5], American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Bulimia was known to be very difficult to treat when it first was acknowledged (Hudson, Pope, Harrison & Jonas, 1983). Fortunately today it can be treated by drug or cognitive therapy. Since that time, a vast variety of treatments have been looked into, and since then two approaches have been known to establish efficacy (Hudson, et al.). One is cognitive-behavioral therapy.
TV shows and social media in general exhibit bulimics as extremely skinny, sad and antisocial people. However, most of the time,
Psychologically, Bulimia and Anorexia are similar. Victims have an obsession with what they’re eating, they fear gaining weight and exercise excessively. Most of them also have a disorder called Body Dysmorphic disorder, which is when they focus on blemishes in their appearance and regularly compare it to the way someone else looks. Those with Anorexia believe they’re fat when in reality they’re dangerously thin, and therefore will not eat or have strict diets. Unlike those with Anorexia, bulimic patients eat, but they binge eat. They mostly eat to reduce stress and alleviate anxiety. Most victims feel like they can’t control themselves when binging and immediately feel guilty and depressed afterward. After binging they purge. When a victim starts purging they vomit and can also use a dangerous amount of laxatives to rid of all the fat they consumed prior. Purging brings the victim a short-lived relief.
Eating disorders are not only detrimental to someone’s physical health, but it affects the person’s psychological well-being. Individuals with these mental illnesses go to extremes when dealing with their weight or food intake. Although it is mostly common in women, men also struggle with an eating disorder, whether its anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by extreme thinness, which is mostly accomplished by an individual through self-starvation. Bulimia nervosa is another life-threatening disorder where the individual have a constant period of bingeing and to compensate for this excess in food intake. The person may purge or use another form of method in