Effects Of Bulimia On Teenagers

Eating disorders are sweeping this country and are rampant on junior high, high school, and college campuses. These disorders are often referred to as the Deadly Diet, but are often known by their more popular names: anorexia or bulimia. They affect more than 20% of females between the age of thirteen and forty. It is very rare for a young female not to know of someone with an eating disorder. Statistics show that at least one in five young women have a serious problem with eating and weight (Bruch, 25).

Many children and adolescents not only express dissatisfaction with their figure, shape and weight, but also exhibit disordered eating behavior, such as binge eating (eating a large amount of food with a sense of lack of control), food restriction, laxative abuse and vomiting. For children and adolescents, eating disorders can overlap in many instances. As an example, some children alternate between periods of anorexia and bulimia. Eating disorders typically develop during adolescence or early adulthood. However, research has shown that they can start in childhood, too. Females are much more vulnerable. Only an estimated 5% to 15% of people with anorexia or bulimia are male. With binge eating, the number rises to 35%

Bulimia has many symptoms. Bulimics have a preoccupation with food and are usually secretive about their addiction to food. A bulimic’s self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. Bulimics suffer from internal bleeding, including gastric ulcers due to trauma from forceful vomiting. Bulimics have tooth and gum decay caused by stomach acids. They also have swollen salivary glands, and broken blood vessels in their eyes, as a result of self-induced vomiting. Bulimics are typically high achievers.

There are many misconceptions in our society about eating disorders. Many people choose to have an eating disorders and others don't. Low self esteem, peer pressure, and bullying may cause people to have an eating disorder.

Researchers have found that in many cases dealing with eating disorders, the person may be dealing with difficulties trying to cope with their emotions and events in their lives, problems controlling impulsive behaviors or trouble managing their moods. These disorders have also been linked to women with a history of sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Scientists also have proof linking eating disorders to genetics. It is from the imbalance of serotonin which is a chemical in your brain involved in depression. Other reasons people may develop eating disorders are perfectionism, depression, low self-worth, self-loathing, poor body image, to acquire a sense of security, and it also has been used as an unconscious attempt to resolve conflict or seek control. In many cases, bulimia has been used as an escape method for dealing with other problems in life like, family dysfunctions, the feeling of abandonment, and a past of sexual abuse or other painful past experiences. Bulimia gives a person a sense of control when they feel as if everything else in life has gone out of

Researchers say that the exact cause of Bulimia is unknown. There are many factors that could play a role in the development of this eating disorders, including biology, emotional health, society high expectations of a woman’s body and other mental issues. Researchers were able to pinpoint some of the most common causes of Bulimia which include low self-esteem, extreme drive for perfection and a distorted body image. There are many symptoms of Bulimia including binge eating, purging, lack of control when eating, exercise obsession, and dehydration. People suffering from Bulimia may need several types of treatment including psychotherapy, journaling, yoga, and art therapy.Researchers say keeping busy with relaxing activities helps the person suffering to get over the disorder. Bulimia is a terrible disease linked to many deaths and it is important to know the causes, symptoms, and

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).

While the causes of bulimia are not limited to the 3 above, this paper will only investigate the ones listed. However, in order to fully comprehend how these can lead to bulimia nervosa, the reader must first understand the condition as a whole. This paper will eventually break down the 3 categories, but first, the symptoms of bulimia, the diagnostic process, and the negative health effects that accompany the condition will be briefly described.

Scientists and doctors have no single cause why teens developed eating disorder, however many scientist and doctors feels that eating disorders are triggered by the media, peers, family, psychological. For example, America Idol finalist and actress Jennifer Hudson appeared on the front cover of People magazine going from a size 16 to a size 6. To illustrate, how the media triggers eating disorders in young teens, American Idol judge Simon Cowell said on national television Jennifer Hudson did not fit the image society are used to seeing and she would not be successful in selling records due to her size. Obviously, the message that was deliver to many young teens was that obesity is not beautiful and to be accepted you must be slim to be accepted by

Sometimes, external factors can lead to internal factors which can, in turn, lead to eating disorders. For example, if a person is ridiculed through social media and feels pressure to fit a certain body type, they might begin to feel insecure about their body. Also, if a person had problems with their boyfriend/girlfriend, it might lead to depression. It can also go the other way. Sometimes depression could lead to family/relationship problems. These internal and external factors intermingle and when they do, many serious eating disorders, like bulimia, can

symptoms but some of the primary ones are: intake of large amounts of food followed by a sense of loss of control over eating behavior. Bulimics make their selves throw up, fast, and become obsessive to exercise at all times. People with bulimia have an extreme concern with their weight, and body shape. Research has shown that people with bulimia have a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects their behavior. Another cause of bulimia may have to do with genetics. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and other events such as being rape can cause someone to lead to bulimia. Bulimics have problem with their bodies and they fear gaining weight so they respond by making their self-throw up.

Anorexia and bulimia are highly deathly diseases that affect all ages and sexes but primary female teenagers. Anorexia and bulimia are diseases of the mind that affects the body, while the media promotes both anorexia and bulimia and presents the sick body results as the ideal body.

Statistics show that there are increasing number of people especially adolescents who are suffering from Bulimia. This has given much attention by the government and the medical experts on how to respond to this chronic illness. Different researches and medical studies shows different sides on how Bulimia has been acquired. It happens to everyone , young and old, rich and poor. One big factor is that family history is part of it. This literature review will give the readers an overview why Bulimic people have been connected with family history and how it affects the general population. This paper will cover how family history, family influences, family psychological and emotional disturbance can increase the risk of an adolescent to become

Personal factors. Genetics or biological factors might make some teens more likely to develop eating disorders. Personality traits such as perfectionism, anxiety or rigidity also might play a role.

Bulimia is frequent in adolescents and young people and is ten times higher in women than in men. Bulimia is broadly classified in two ways: Purging bulimia: People who suffer from this type of bulimia often use self induce vomiting soon after excessively eating.