Essay on Pregnancy and Eating Disorders

What is a feminist approach to understanding eating disorders? Not all feminists have the same understanding of eating disorders. There are many different theories that are prevalent in feminist literature today. This web page will explore some of the different feminist perspectives about the cause of eating disorders in our culture.

Bulimia nervosa is a second eating disorder that needs attention drawn to it. Bulimia was pretty much unknown before the mid 1970’s (Dippel, N. & Becknal, K., 1987). Bulimia consists of binging and purging (eating as much as possible and then throwing it up). In a study that was conducted it was found that after bulimics had attempted several diets without success, they then became aware of vomiting or laxatives as a means to weight loss (Herzog, 1982). The symptoms of bulimia heave to do with preoccupations with food, weight, body image, and ridding themselves of ingested food (Dippel, N. & Becknal, K., 1987). Most people throw up because they feel guilty for consuming all the foods they know they shouldn’t have. They vomit not only to get rid of the food but to get rid of any unwanted feelings and emotions. Most patients begin purging approximately 1 year after the binge eating has started. As scary as the facts may sound, what is even scarier is the affects

With Anorexia Nervosa, there is a strong fear of weight gain and a preoccupation with body image. Those diagnosed may show a resistance in maintaining body weight or denial of their illness. Additionally, anorexics may deny their hunger, have eating rituals such as excessive chewing and arranging food on a plate, and seek privacy when they are eating. For women, they go through immediate body changes from abnormal to no menstruation periods and develop lanugo all over their bodies. Characteristics of an anorexic individual also consist of extreme exercise patterns, loosely worn clothing, and maintain very private lives. Socially, to avoid criticism or concern from others, they may distant themselves from friends and activities they once enjoyed. Instead, their primary concerns revolve around weight loss, calorie intake, and dieting. In regards to health, many will have an abnormal slow heart rate and low blood pressure, some can develop osteoporosis, severe dehydration which can result in kidney failure, and overall feel weak (Robbins, 27-29). It has been reported that Anorexia Nervosa has one of the highest death rates in any mental health condition in America (www.NationalEatingDisorders.org).

This updated edition includes a section of answers to some of the common questions the author is asked about bulimia. Anyone suffering from an eating disorder (there are eight million bulimics in America alone), as well as parents, friends, counselors, and pastors will find hope and help through this engaging true life

An equally disruptive eating disorder that has been seen in increasing numbers in recent years is Bulimia. About two percent of American women are affected by this disorder. Bulimia is characterized by a distinctive binging and purging cycle. Individuals with this disorder will often times consume large amounts of food, and the immediate throw it back up. These binging and purging actions have substantial medical risks. Additionally, some individuals consume large amounts of food and then proceed to exercise for exorbitant amounts of time. This can also be a risk to ones wellbeing. Other characteristics associated with Bulimia include the abuse of laxatives and diuretics. Individuals with this disease often times completely lose control over their dietary habits. The massive highs and lows cause emotional instability. The mood swings that

The two most common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Both disorders, primarily affect young women, therefore the majority of the research on eating disorders has been done with women subjects. The onset of bulimia is between adolescence and early adulthood while the onset of anorexia is between early and late adolescence. Not only is the onset different but the disorders are unique. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by loss of control over eating which leads to food binges. These episodes are interspersed with episodes of purging, such as vomiting or laxative abuse, to keep weight down. The goal of anorexia is also to keep weight down , but to a

Safer, D. L., Agras, W. S., Lowe, M. R., Bryson, S. (2003). Comparing two measures of eating restraint in bulimic women treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36, (1), 83. Retrieved February 4, 2005, from PhyscINFO database.

While it has been long assumed that bulimia and anorexia have stemmed from insecurities and poor choices; DNA, genetics, endorphins, cholecystokinin, and CCK levels, among other things, are all important deciding factors of whether or not someone will be plagued with the diseases. Among the two, bulimia nervosa has had the most backed research on what could be the cause and nature of the disease. Bulimia Nervosa is a binge eating disorder. During these binges the participants eat without their food hormone receptors turning off resulting in them eating more than what would be FDA approved. After one of their binges they quickly purge themselves in a hope to lose the weight they gained during their binges. Pinpointing the causes of it have proven difficult because the disorder has both mental and psychical components, and it develops in

CBT treatment typically lasts about 20 weeks and can be divided into three stages (Fairburn et al., 1993). In the first stage, the cognitive view on the maintenance of bulimia is presented, and behavioral techniques are implemented to replace binge eating with more stable eating patterns. In the second stage, additional attempts are made to establish healthy eating habits, and an emphasis is placed upon the elimination of dieting. Cognitive processes (previously outlined) are focused upon extensively in this stage; the therapist and the individual examine his/her thoughts, beliefs, and values which maintain the eating problem. The final stage is concerned with maintaining the gains made in therapy once the treatment has been terminated (Fairburn et al., 1993).

Safer, D. L., Agras, W. S., Lowe, M. R., Bryson, S. (2003). Comparing two measures of eating restraint in bulimic women treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 36, (1), 83. Retrieved February 4, 2005, from PhyscINFO database.

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating with inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and antidepressant drug therapy are treatment modalities that have shown promise with patients diagnosed with eating disorders, more so with Bulimia than with Anorexia, (Comer, 2014). In this case study analysis, a synthesis of researched outcomes-based treatment modalities is used to conceptualize a diagnosis and treatment plan for a 19 year-old female client presenting with symptoms of 307.51 (F50.2) Bulimia Nervosa; extreme.

While Bulimia is known by many names, the term “bulimia” did not enter the English language until the 1970s, “perhaps representing lingering uncertainty about its essence” (Gordon, 2000). Bulimia, as we know it, is a modern disease, however, there is some evidence of binging and purging in ancient times; for example, in ancient Egypt, “physicians would recommend periodical purgation as a health practice” (Gordon, 2000). There has also been documentation of wealthy families in the middle ages vomiting during meals in order to continue eating large amounts of food. At this point, you may be wondering why these examples are not considered Bulimia Nervosa. According to Dr. Richard Allan Gordon, author of Eating Disorders: Anatomy of a Social

Bulimia nervosa is a condition where a person is so preoccupied with their body weight and physical appearance that they develop an unhealthy habit of binge eating, and then use extreme methods of to counteract the effects. (Bacaltchuk & Hay, 2001). The most common method of counteraction is purging by self-forced vomiting, however, other methods are also used such as abusing laxatives, emetics, and diuretics. While anyone can suffer from bulimia, about 95% of people suffering from it are female, and most of them are white from the middle and upper classes (Yager, 1991). Bulimia is a dangerous and sometimes fatal issue

Brandy is a 21-year-old from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the oldest of four children and her parents have been married for the past twenty-two years. After suffering for the past seven years in silence, Brandy has finally sought out treatment for bulimia nervosa. Brandy is a textbook case of a patient suffering from bulimia. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) diagnostic criteria includes: Persisting binge eating episodes, reoccurring behaviors to prevent weight gain, both harmful purging behaviors and binge eating episodes occurring at least once a week for a minimum for three months, evaluating oneself solely or predominantly influenced by one’s body shape and weight, and finally the patient must not exhibit the aforementioned symptoms during an episode of anorexia nervosa. Her difficulty with her weight started in high school with binge eating. Soon after starting to binge eat, she starting purging by forcing herself to puke. The roots of her disorder is in her persistent stress and anxiety as a result of her trying to strive to success.

This article is about the effects of therapy on patients that have Bulimia and are going through Bulimia abstinence. The study was done on about 150 patients to see if there where similarities in purging and eating habits. The study shoed that there where similarities between the different groups of people when it came to bulimia habits. I personally thought that this article was lacking in details and specificity.