Bulimia has become a common national eating disorder. It involves an explosive self-abuse cycle of bingeing and purging during which the bulimic has difficulty developing normal eating patterns. As indicated by the Mental Health Foundation, bulimics develop a dependency on “… alternating between the frantic activity of binge-eating and the subsequent state of panic and the need to get rid of what has just been eaten.” (2000) Their thoughts are absorbed with weight, diet, and exercise which leads to damaging and harmful behaviors. The bulimic develops a distorted, negative perception of her body image, and will take extreme measures to attain ideal standards.
Definition of Bulimia
Dr. Phillip Long defines bulimia (also known as bulimia nervosa) as a medical condition characterized by “recurrent episodes of binge eating” and “recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain - such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.” (1995 - 2001) Binge eating is a period where an individual consumes a large quantity of food than most people. They overeat in order to satisfy feelings of hopelessness and ineptitude. Afterwards they engage in the cycle of purging to rid themselves of the calories and weight gain.
Bulimia is a psychiatric illness that affects many individuals, the majority women, in America. Bulimics engage in these dangerous behaviors in order to deal with other psychological problems that they may face. The cycle of bingeing and purging becomes so out of control resulting in depression, shame, and guilt.
Causes of Bulimia
As stated in the article, “Introducing Bulimia Nervosa,” the exact cause of bulimia nervosa remains unknown. (2000) However triggers such as the fixation to be thin and prevent weight gain coupled with feelings of low self-esteem and unhappiness seem to be the common threads that link women to engage in this self-destructive behavior. The typical bulimic is highly dissatisfied with her weight. The person is afraid of becoming fat or undesirable, resulting in extreme behavior to obtain the perfect shape. Regular dieting and exercise is not enough to attain perfection, therefore the most perfect rapid and immediate solution is to binge and purge.
In Assessment and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa, other causes theorized, yet not proven were predisposing genetic factors that lead one to engage in bulimic activity. “Predisposing factors include psychological and personality factors, such as perfectionism, impaired self-concept, affective instability, poor impulse control, and an absence of adaptive functioning to maturational tasks and developmental stressors (e.g., puberty, peer and parental relationships, sexuality, marriage, and pregnancy).” (1998) Environmental factors such as dealing with stress, emotions, and other familial problems have also led individuals to engage in this obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Consequences for the Bulimic
Repeated vomiting and laxative abuse due to the purging cycle can have dangerous physical consequences. These consequences are dehydration, throat irritation, and colon damage to name a few. The end result can be impairment of the heart or a heart attack.
Another consequence of excessive vomiting is acid, which can cause damage to tooth enamel. Absence or irregularity with the menstrual cycle is also a common risk among women. Finally because many bulimics are despondent, filled with shame and guilt, suicide can become the final outcome.
Need for Intervention
Trying to achieve the ideal body image or in search of a need to be skinny, many women are afflicted with the eating disorder, bulimia. They engage in a continuing compulsive behavior of bingeing and purging to attain thinness. Their life becomes an emotional roller coaster filled with disorder, emptiness, and unhappiness. Overall bulimia nervosa is a mental disorder that has the ability of facilitating severe consequences.
Intervention and treatment are necessary to rectify the obsessive behavior and prevent any further damage. Recognizing the problem and seeking help should be encouraged as the first steps towards recovery.
Sources:
Agras WS. “Disorders of eating: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder”. In: Shader RI, ed. Manual of psychiatric therapeutics. 2d ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 1994.
Long M.D., Philip. “Bulimia”. Internet Medical Health. 1995 – 2001. (Retrieved on 1/13/2011)
McGilley, Beth and Pryor, Tamara. “Assessment and Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa”. AmericanAcademy of Family Physicians. June 1998. P. 2743 – 2752
Rowan, Dr.Peter. “ Introducing Bulimia Nervosa ”. The PriorityHospital. 2000. (Retrieved on 1/13/2011)
Sansone RA, Sansone LA. Bulimia Nervosa: Medical Complications. In: Alexander-MottL, Lumsden DB, eds. Understanding Eating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, and Obesity. Washington, D.C.: Taylor & Francis, 1994:181-201.
Tasha Kelley - By day, I am employed as a school psychologist who works with and assesses children with special needs. I have been blessed with a ...
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