Eating Disorders: Bulimia Nervosa

Many people are unaware of the background of eating disorders. Women are more likely than men to develop an eating disorder and they usually develop in childhood before the age of 20 (Ross-Flanigan 1). Women as well as men can develop an eating disorder; it is just more likely for a woman to develop one. Eating disorders are usually developed in adolescent or childhood years when a person is influenced the most. Also “Eating disorders are psychological conditions that involve overeating, voluntary starvation, or both. Anorexia nervosa, anorexic bulimia, and binge eating are the most well-known types of eating disorders” (Ross-Flanigan 1). Many people assume that an eating disorder is when a person staves themselves; they do not realize that it can involve overeating as well. Some eating disorders also involve purging, but not all. People with an eating disorder fear gaining weight even when they are severely underweight. They do not lack an appetite (Ross-Flanigan 1). These people are

Eating disorders are alive and well in today’s world and they are a major problem. An eating disorder can look like a few different things, ranging from a severe reduction of food intake to over eating to feelings of negativity towards your body shape or weight (Lehigh University). While some disorders can only be found in specific age groups, races, etc., eating disorders can be found amongst all and it does not necessarily have to be pointed towards food (Lehigh University). In fact, the four areas primarily affect eating disorders: psychological, interpersonal, social, and biological. I am going to talk about three specific eating disorders: anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Keep in mind that there could be other eating disorders out there that are not found and classified just yet (Lehigh University).

Eating disorders are characterized by gross disturbances in eating behavior and include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, eating disorders not otherwise specified(NOS), and binge eating disorder. Also, several researchers have coined the term anorexia athletics.

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is defined an eating disorder that is consists of abnormally low body weight. A person suffering from this disease typically has a body mass index (BMI) that is less than 85% of what is considered normal. Anorexics have a fear of being overweight and often

Eating disorder is a term used to describe several psychological disorders characterized by abnormal eating habits. Some of the most common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa is probably the most well-known of these. A person suffering from anorexia nervosa will obsess over weight gain and show unusual anxiety related to weight gain. Depending upon the type (binge-eating/purging type or restricting type) a person will either consume food and then attempt to “purge”, a term used to describe a method of forced removal of food from the body such as self-induced vomiting, or they will restrict the amount of food consumed. In most cases the person will be under healthy weight and often see themselves as average weight or even overweight. In bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorders the affected person will eat excessive amounts of food. People suffering from these diseases report feeling out of control during their binge eating episodes. In bulimia nervosa binge eating episodes are followed by some method of purging whereas in binge eating disorder they are not, although the person normally expresses feelings of guilt or embarrassment afterwards. People suffering from bulimia nervosa are usually average weight which can make detection difficult. Those with binge eating disorder are normally

According to the Mayo Clinic (2016), eating disorders are “conditions related to persistent eating behaviors that negatively impact your health, your emotions, and your ability to function in important areas of life.” One such eating disorder is anorexia nervosa. Not to be confused with anorexia, which is simply a general loss of appetite that can be attributed to many medical ailments, anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder and mental illness (Nordqvist, 2015). Anorexia nervosa is estimated to affect about .9% of women and .3% of men in their lifetime (“Eating Disorder Statistics & Research,” n.d.). In general, the disorder is commonly characterized by a distorted body image or self-concept, critically low weight (with respect to the patient’s height and age), and an irrational fear of becoming fat or an intense desire to be thin. There are two subtypes to this eating disorder: restrictive and binge/purge. In the restrictive type, the individual limits caloric intake and may compulsively over-exercise. In the binge/purge type, the individual consumes a considerable amount of food in a short period of time (binging) and then deliberately vomits (purging), takes laxatives, or fasts intensely in order to compensate for the food eaten (“General Information: Anorexia Nervosa,” n.d.). In either case, anorexia nervosa is undoubtedly a dangerous and alarming illness.

Eating disorders have become an increasing public health problem once thought to be an affliction amongst young women, now an epidemic across culture and gender boundaries. Anorexia gives rise to serious socio-economic and bio-psychological circumstances of our ever vast, growing society. Awareness of eating disorders have increased but perhaps only in proportion to its advancement of its research and treatment. That which still leaves us in a position for a much greater demand for education and heightened awareness of this perplexing disease.

Some of the first documented cases of Anorexia Nervosa were religious in origin. As early as the 12th century we saw women, particularly in Western Christianity, known as “Miracle Maidens” who were highly esteemed for their self-control, their “holy anorexia” was thought of as a gift from God. Some scholars have stated “the intense relationship

Eating disorders have been charted throughout history; some of the oldest discoveries come from as far back as 700 B.C. many cultures used imbedded the traits of eating disorders without knowing. These traits were used in terms of medicine, religion, and at times of celebration. For example, the ancient Egyptians drew hieroglyphics of their practices of vomiting. They believed that by vomiting for three days out of the month that they would avoid illness. Another example of ancient practices is found in the culture of the Romans. Around the time of Caesar’s rule (700 A.D.), wealthy romans would throw feasts, when they started to become full they would go to a vomitorium to purge, then they would return to their feasts to once again overindulge. The last examples are the women of Italy. To show their devotion to their religion these women would expose themselves to extreme means of torture. One of the most famous icons of these actions is Saint

Anorexia nervosa is a mental illness that is characterized by an unrealistic fear of weight gain, self-starvation, and conspicuous distortion of body image. The individual with the disorder becomes obsessed with becoming increasingly thinner and will limits food intake to the point where their health is compromised (Butcher, Hooley, J. M., & Mineka, 2013).

Bulimia nervosa, also known as bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder in which the person secretly eats food. There are two different types of Bulimia that include Purging and Nonpurging. Purging bulimia is where a people regularly vomits or uses laxatives after eating a large amount of food. Nonpurging bulimia is where a people uses different methods such as fasting or excessive exercise to remove calories in order to prevent gaining weight. Some symptoms of bulimia are being worried about body and gaining weight, uncontrollable eating, feeling discomfort after eating, large binge eating episode, vomit or exercise after eating, misusing laxatives, restricting calories, and excessive use of dietary supplements. The exact cause of bulimia are unknown, but some doctors say that it is caused by

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.

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder. It is also called Bulimia. In Bulimia after people eat food than in the short time they take it out by vomiting, purging, or fasting. An eating disorder in which a large quantity of food is consumed in a short period of time, often followed by feelings of guilt or shame and leading to binging and purging due to extreme fear of gaining weight. This person consumes thousands of calories in one sitting. Then force themselves to vomit. Their appearance is like normal body weight, but is actually a little over weight.

Bulimia, also called bulimia nervosa, is when a person eats over 2,000 calories and tries to find methods to avoid gaining weight. This chronic illness is very life- threatening because it is putting the body at harm. When a person is Bulimic, they stress/ binge eat. After they try to vomit, excessive exercise, laxative use, fasting, and a combination of these methods just so they don’t gain weight. Both genders suffer from this disorder, but it is found that it occurs in woman more. There are two types of bulimia. There is purging which is when individuals vomit, use laxatives, and diuretics after binging. The other type is non-purging which is when individuals use inappropriate methods such as excessive exercising or fasting (Amanda De Cadenet).

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.