Bulimia, also called Bulimia Nervosa, is a phychological eating disorder. Bulimia
was classified as a distinct disorder by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980.
The name was changed to Bulimia Nervosa in 1987. Bulimia is characterized by episodes
of binge-eating followed by purging. Bulimics eat more food than normal and gets rid of
the food by vomiting or using laxatives or by other means. In a single binge, a bulimic may
throw up 1,000 to 20,000 calories. Bulimia is commonly found in girls of late adolescence
and early adulthood. Bulimia is frequently developed when a peroson goes away to
school, starts a new job, ends a significant relationship, or faces a change in their family
circumstances. Bulimics are however quite succesful at their school, work, and social life.
( Michael Maloney, M.D. & Rachel Kranz, 1991, Straight talk about Eating disorders,
Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., pgs. 78-80)
There were lots of myths on bulimia. One of them was that only teenage girls
develop bulimia. However, we now know that not only teenage girls, but men, children
and women develop bulimia. Another myth was that bulimics always purge by vomiting.
We now know that's not true because bulimics can purge by using laxatives,diurectics,
exercising, or fasting. Another myth was that a person cannot die from bulimia. The fact is
that bulimics are at a high risk for dying, especially when they purge, use laxatives or do
excessive exercise. Another myth was that bulimia was a good way to loose weight.
However, the fact is that bulimia is a poor weight reduction method. It doesn't work and
you create a number of health and phychological problems. (Colleen Thompson, 2004,
Myths and Realities. Avaialable at : http://www.mirror-mirror.org/myths.htm)
The age group that bulimia effects is girls ages 15 to 24. Eighteen is the average
age for becoming a bulimic. A study sho...