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An Overview of Eating Disorders In a society that is increasingly placing standards of beauty upon the youths of our population,... |
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Bulimia A Dangerous Secret |
Current Info on Eating Disorders |
Eating Disorders
Bulimia A Dangerous Secret frequent form of eating disorder, bulimia is a type of eating disorder that the sufferer often keeps a well-hid secret. It has been said that bulimia is in fact the most secretive of all eating disorders. The individual suffering from bulimia learns to keep the eating disorder a well-kept secret, sometimes hiding their condition from public view for many years. The actress Jane Fonda, for instance, confesses to suffering from bulimia from age 12 to 35, when she was finally able to recover. The cycle of binging can be hard to get hold of once it has become established. Bulimia often begins innocently enough. Most of the time, the eating disorder begins when the individual begins to binge and purge as part of a diet to lose weight. Soon, the binge and purge cycle becomes firmly entrenched, and the bulimia patient may feel incapable of stopping.
Most people understand that bulimia is characterized by an unhealthy binge and purge cycle. But many people don't realize that individuals afflicted with bulimia tend to consume many more calories in a smaller amount of time than most people. For instance, the normal caloric intake for a woman may be somewhere in the range of 2,000 to 3,000 calories in the course of one day. A person suffering from bulimia may consume around 3,400 calories in two hours. Obviously, this manner of consumption has many implications. First, eating such a large amount of food in a relatively short amount of time can greatly upset the body's digestive system, and purging only further disrupts the digestive organs. There are also a number of social and financial implications. The individual may isolate themselves from friends and family in order to binge and purge, and they may spend money each day in order to purchase food for their sessions of binging and purging. The secretive nature of bulimia can make it particularly difficult to diagnose. Most people with bulimia develop the first symptoms of the disease during their early teens or 20s. Because bulimia can be relatively easy to hide, the individuals may not demonstrate overt signs of the disease until reaching their 30s or 40s. Why is bulimia so difficult to diagnose? Unlike some cases of anorexia nervosa, bulimia may not be physically evident. This is because most people with bulimia are able to maintain a healthy weight. They may even project a healthy image. Many bulimics often seem to be healthy, successful "put together" individuals. In fact, many researchers have pointed to the "perfectionism" associated with bulimia. Many bulimics express a need to be "perfect" when it comes to their weight and appearance. In addition to striving for perfection, some bulimics may also be privy to other types of compulsive behavior. Some doctors report that their bulimic patients are drawn to compulsive behaviors such as alcohol abuse, substance addiction, and shoplifting. Clearly, bulimia can affect every part of a person's life. It is considered a serious health risk that should be treated as early as possible to prevent permanent health damage. ### While the articles on this Website were written with great care, errors or omissions may occur. The information is provided "as-is", without any warranty whether expressed or implied. All readers agree to use the information provided on this site entirely at their own risk. The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition whatsoever - including eating disorders. If you suspect you or someone you know has an eating disorder, always seek the advice of a professional medical doctor. Eating Disorder Symptoms in the News02/07/2012Flu season is mild, but gearing up Just because the winter has been mild - don't assume flu season is over. Flu season typically peaks in February or March, so it still has time to ramp up. Here's what you need to know Flu season is mild, but gearing up 02/06/2012 UV Flu Technologies Continues Aggressive Program to Pay off Convertible Debt CENTERVILLE, Mass., Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- UV Flu Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: UVFTD.OB - News) (the "Company") is pleased to announce it is ahead of schedule in its continuing program to eliminate ... UV Flu Technologies Continues Aggressive Program to Pay off Convertible Debt 02/07/2012 Officials prepare for flu season peak Reports of flu statewide are showing a slight increase, leading health care officials to preach prevention in advance of an expected peak season. Officials prepare for flu season peak 02/07/2012 The proper etiquette of having the flu Don’t laugh but there is a socially proper way to have the flu. And Anna Post, great-great-granddaughter of the doyen of proper etiquette, Emily Post, has put together the flu etiquette ground rules. The proper etiquette of having the flu 02/07/2012 Alabama among 19 states with flu activity No states have reported widespread flu outbreaks. Alabama among 19 states with flu activity Eating Disorders (Home) | Eating Disorders Sitemap
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ating disorders include complusive overeating (eating excessively) or eating far too little (overly restrictive eating) or any other compulsion to eat in a manner that upsets or threatens physical health. Eating disorders that are continued over time may have severe consequences on a person's health, including death.