Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are two kinds of eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a form of self-starvation. Bulimia is eating large amounts of foods (binging) and then forcing oneself to throw up or using laxatives and water pills to get rid of what was overeaten (purging). These eating disorders are both a form of self-abuse.
Symptoms
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia seem like opposite conditions, but they share these
common traits:
Fear of overeating and gaining
weight
Depression
Low self-esteem, poor body image
Self-destructive outlook, self-punishment
for some imaginary wrong
Disturbed family relationships
Increased rate of illness due to low
weight, frequent weight gain/loss and/or poor nutrition
Abnormal preoccupation with food and
feeling out of control
Anorexia Nervosa Sufferers:
Are mostly female, and/or
pre-teen, teenage or college age
Tend to place too much emphasis on body
image and perfection
May feel the need to be perfect to gain
parental attention.
Have marked physical effects - loss of head
hair, slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, absence of menstrual periods
Tend to experience more extreme depression
than bulimics
Develop osteoporosis in later life due to
lack of calcium and decreased production of estrogen if menstruation stops. Excessive
exercise can contribute to this as well.
May have severe damage to heart and vital
organs due to an excessive loss of weight and to a mineral imbalance from vomiting and/or
poor nutrition
Approximately 1% of American females have anorexia.
Bulimia Sufferers:
Can be overweight,
underweight, or normal weight
Are mostly female and older teen or young
adult
Binge eat and then vomit (purge) and/or
take laxatives or water pills (diuretics) to "undo" the binge
Have severe health problems that come from
the binge-purge cycle of eating. These include stomach lining damage, irregular heartbeat,
kidney damage from low potassium levels, and damage to tooth enamel from vomiting.
Repress anger because they can't express
emotions in an assertive way. They fear upsetting important people in their lives.
Approximately 2% of college students and 1% of U.S. women overall have bulimia. Bulimia can follow anorexia and vice versa.
There is no one cause for these eating disorders. There are many factors. They
include:
A possible genetic link
Metabolic and biochemical problems or
abnormalities
Pressure from society to be thin
Personal or family pressures
Fear of entering puberty or becoming
sexually active
Treatment
Treatment for anorexia and/or bulimia includes:
Medical diagnosis and care - the
earlier, the better
Psychotherapy - individual, family, and/or
group
Behavior therapy
Medication - antidepressant medicine is
sometimes used.
Medical nutrition therapy
Support group participation
Outpatient treatment programs
Hospitalization - if weight loss makes you
25% or more below normal weight and/or has affected vital functions
Treatment can vary in length as well as method. It can take from a few months to several years.
Have you lost a significant amount of weight by dieting and
exercising on purpose (not due to any known illness) and do you have any of these
problems? An intense fear of gaining weight
or of getting fat You see yourself as fat even though you are
at normal weight or are underweight. You continue to diet and exercise
excessively even though you have reached your weight goal.  |
 |
| Are you aware that your eating pattern is not normal and are you
afraid that you will not be able to stop binge eating? Are you depressed after binging on
food? |
|
| Do you have a combination of these problems along with abnormal
eating habits? Irregular heartbeat Slow pulse, low blood pressure Rapid tooth decay Low body temperature, cold hands and feet Thin hair (or hair loss) on the head,
babylike hair on the body (lanugo) Dry skin, fingernails that split, peel, or
crack Problems with digestion, bloating,
constipation Three or more missed periods (in a row),
delayed onset of menstruation, infertility Periods of depression and lethargy, euphoria
and/or hyperactivity Tiredness, weakness, muscle cramps, tremors Lack of concentration |
|
| Do you do one or both of the following? Hoard food Leave the table right after meals to
"go to the bathroom" to induce vomiting and/or spend long periods of time in the
bathroom from taking laxatives and/or water pills |
|
| Do you have recurrent episodes when you eat a large amount of food
at a very fast pace and do at least 3 of the following? Eat high-calorie, easily eaten
foods during a binge Binge eat with no one watching Stop the binge eating when you get stomach
pain, go to sleep, interact socially, or induce vomiting Attempt to lose weight over and over with
severe diets, self-induced vomiting, and/or laxatives or water pills Have weight changes of more than 10 pounds
due to binging and fasting |
|
If you have answered NO to all of the above questions you are probably not suffering from anorexia nervosa and/or bulimia. If you are not sure, though, see a counselor for a professional assessment.
{Note: Eating disorders are too complex and physically harmful to be treated with self-care alone. Experts agree that experienced professionals should treat people who have eating disorders. See "Places to Get Information & Help" under Eating Disorders.}
Prevention
The following tips may help prevent an eating disorder:
Accept yourself and your body. You
don't need to be or look like anyone else. Spend time with people who accept you as you
are, not people who focus on "thinness."
Eat nutritious foods. Focus on complex
carbohydrates (whole grains, beans, etc.), fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy
foods, and low-fat meats.
Eat at regular times during the day. Don't
skip meals. If you do, you are more likely to binge when you eat.
Avoid white flour, sugar, and
"junk" foods high in calories, such as cakes, cookies or pastry, which have fat
and sugar. Bulimics tend to binge on junk food. The more they eat, the more they want.
Get regular moderate exercise. If you find
that you are exercising excessively, make an effort to get involved in nonexercise
activities with friends and family.
Find success in things that you do. Your
work, hobbies, and volunteer activities will promote self-esteem.
Learn as much as you can about eating
disorders from books and organizations that deal with them.
Parents who want to help daughters avoid
eating disorders should promote a balance between their daughters' competing needs for
both independence and family involvement.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99