Bulimia Nervosa

By: Inga Dahlstedt

Allison Davenport

McKenna King

Anna Tovar

Definition

Definition: Eating disorder that involves bingeing on food and then:

Throwing up Abusing diet pills and

laxatives and/or Exercising obsessively

to avoid weight gain

Statistics

Usually begins in early adolescents or early adult life 95% are female Common amongst Caucasian girls Highest among young women 12-25 years old who live in the

western society, where “dieting” is common 2% of all adolescents of young women are bulimic A person is likely to develop it if they have a history of sexual

abuse, depression, or dieting Half of all anorexics become bulimics Bulimics binge about 11 times a week

Warning Signs

Out of control binge eating, cannot voluntarily stop Use the bathroom frequently after meals Reacts to emotional stress by overeating Frequent fluctuations in weight Obsessively concerned with their weight Attempts to adhere to diets, but fails Guilt or shame from eating Feels out of control Depressive moods Using extreme measures to lose weight Using diet pills or laxatives Exercising a lot, even during bad weather, fatigue, sickness or injury Cuts and calluses on the backs of the hands and knuckles Teeth that look “clear” Acting differently Spending less time with family and friends; becoming more isolated, withdrawn and secretive Self-worth is excessively influenced by weight and physical appearance

Physical Effects

Chronic bingeing and purging leads to many health problems such as:

Lethargy Cloudy thinking Irregular heart beat Weight (fat) gain Abdominal pain, bloating Swelling of the hands and feet Chronic sore throats, hoarseness Broken blood vessels in the eyes Swollen cheeks and salivary glands Weakness and dizziness Tooth decay and mouth sores Acid reflex or ulcers Ruptured stomach or esophagus Loss of menstrual periods Chronic constipation because of laxative abuse And finally it could lead to death

Emotional and Cognitive Effects

Low self-esteem that leads to poor body image

Isolation from family and friends that leads to lack of social experience

Lack of focus in school and other activities

It can be easily used as a coping method for stress therefore making it addicting

Bulimia Survey

Take out a piece of paper and answers these questions either about yourself or someone you feel may have an eating disorder.

Do you make yourself Sick (induce vomiting) because you feel uncomfortably full?

Do you worry that you have lost Control over how much you eat?

Have you recently lost more than 14lb in a 3-month period?

Do you think you are too Fat, even though others say you are too thin?

Would you say that Food dominates your life?

Give yourself 1 point for every "yes" answer.

A score equal to or greater than 2 means that you may have anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

SCOFF questionnaire copyright ©1999 St. George's Hospital Medical School,

University of London. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

For More Information

National Eating Disorders AssociationPhone: (800) 931-2237Internet Address: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Academy for Eating DisordersPhone: (847) 498-4274Internet Address: http://www.aedweb.org