Bulimia Is A Severe Eating Disorder

Bulimia is but one of a growing number of eating disorders recognized in our modern society. Depression, low self-esteem, and extreme perfectionism are common in people with these symptoms. Bulimia can also cause tension with family and friends, interrupting the lives of people with the disorder.

The eating behavior can look normal but after a short while, he or she feels disgusted with their eating and uses different methods of eliminating it. Many people, if not most, with bulimia will not admit that they have an eating disorder, but this understanding is crucial to their recovery. Anorexia is another growing eating disorder among young women where they starve themselves to become thin. Bulimia is also a popular eating disorder that commonly affects women who have an extreme fear of gaining weight.

A period of binge-eating is produces strong feelings of guilt. A person with anorexia has the obvious signs of emaciation but with a bulimia sufferer, it is really necessary to observe the binge eating. As binge eating is usually carried out secretively, this can create a problem in reaching an early diagnosis. A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation and it is not a response to intense hunger. The overeating is not caused by hunger, but by feelings of depression and stress. They often binge on comfort foods like potato chips, cakes and cookies.

With this disease there is a risk for damages that will become permanent. Bulimia can also be the reason why a person will get problems with the teeth. It is also likely that these persons have intense psychological problems. One reason is that they are often led to believe that diet and figure are of extreme importance.

The physical problems should be treated symptomatically and also include a diet regime that can control weight without the dangers that this obsession of bulimia can bring. The treatment should continue with counselling for quite some time after returning home from hospital. Any bulimia recovery requires the help of a psychiatrist who can recognize why a person is bulimic and how they can break their binge-and-purge cycle. The binge-eating episode is usually triggered by stress or depression and can happen a few times a week.

Bulimia nervosa is another term for this condition and it can give severe medical complications. On one hand, anorexia nervosa is a condition wherein the person suffering from it is constantly afraid of gaining weight. What triggers a person to suffer from bulimia nervosa cannot be pinpointed exactly as it is usually the result of a number of factors. But, the occurrence of bulimia nervosa can be prevented and in case you are already suffering from it, you can be cured.
By Louise Wasa

Eating Disorder Statistics

Living beings survive on food and it is an essential part of the daily need of the mankind. And yet many of us suffer from eating disorders. The worst part is that young people and adolescents are the victims of the phenomenon. Most statistics say that eating disorders are very common, especially among female adolescents.

Researchers estimate that about one percent (1%) of the female adolescents suffer from anorexia. This would mean that about one out of every one hundred young women between ten and twenty are suffering from Anorexia Nervosa. The reason for anorexia is because these young people are often eating less. This can some times lead to death. And it is now all the more common.

As per a research study about four percent (4%), or four out of one hundred, college-aged women have bulimia. 50% of the people who suffer from anorexia, develop bulimia or bulimic patterns. The statistics of such people who suffer from bulimia is difficult to ascertain because these people are secretive and do not reveal their problem. The same is the case for older people who suffer from bulimia. It is rare in case of children.

For the males with signs of eating disorder the statistics says that about 10% of those people suffer from anorexia and bulimia. The difference may be because the expectation for women in our society is different than for men. Women are expected to look slim and beautiful and this has led to many women falling prey to Anorexia and this may sometimes lead to Bulimia.
A
nother research study at Harvard University Medical School suggests that up to 25 percent of adults with eating disorders are male. The emergence of the new figures is very different from previous research. As per the new facts and figures, men are becoming more prone to eating disordered. It could be also that new technology has improved the diagnostic tools and are now catching people who would have escaped detection before. Also, it is now evident that men are now more concerned about their looks and give serious attention to their appearance and body image. The new study was based on information obtained from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a mental health survey of nearly 9,000 adults across the U.S.
By Max Suther