Bulimia Nervosa
What is Bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that involves an obsessive desire to lose weight, which leads to overeating followed by any form of purgings, self-induced vomiting, overexercising, fasting, use of laxatives, and other extreme methods.
History
Bulimia nervosa was first introduced in 1979 by “...British psychiatrist Gerald Russel as a ‘chronic phase of anorexia Nervosa” (Castillo & Weiselberg 2017). Patients struggling with this disorder were observed to overeat and then act on extreme behaviors in order to “compensate”.
Binge Eating Disorder vs. Bulimia Disorder
Although binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa are very similar because they both involve binging on food, there are distinct differences between the two disorders. The most apparent difference is the fact that people struggling with bulimia nervosa tend to immediately act upon acts of purging to compensate for the food that was consumed. On the other hand, people struggling with BED may not experience the same tendency.
Misconceptions
One misconception about bulimia nervosa is that only women and girls can struggle with this disorder. However, bulimia nervosa can affect anyone, regardless of gender. Another myth about bulimia nervosa is that people with this disorder are not at risk until visibly thin (Hunnicutt 2021). However, a person’s appearance does not reflect their internal struggles, and anyone can still be suffering from the detrimental symptoms of bulimia nervosa. Another myth is that bulimia nervosa is a choice. However, no one chooses to struggle with an eating disorder, and everyone suffers differently. Causes of eating disorders may range from but are not limited to the influence of, social media, parental figures, peers, and society.
Symptoms
Some of the many symptoms of bulimia nervosa may include, preoccupation with body weight, fear of weight gain, binge eating, acts of purging, the use of laxatives, and others.
You are not alone
If you feel that you, or a loved one, are struggling with an eating disorder, please consult a professional or visit the sites below. Asking for help is not easy, but you are not alone, making that first will help you so much in the long run. Happiness and health are worth much more than societal standards.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/eating-disorders/eating-disorder-treatment-and-recovery.htm
Works Cited
NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28532966/
Hunnicutt, C. (2022, August 4). Binging but not Purging: How to Tell Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder Apart. Monte Nido. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.montenido.com/bulimia-nervosa-and-binge-eating-disorder/
Hunnicutt, C. (2020, October 3). Six Common Myths About Bulimia Nervosa, Debunked. Oliver-Pyatt Centers. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.oliverpyattcenters.com/six-common-myths-about-bulimia-nervosa/
Bulimia nervosa - Symptoms and causes. (2018, May 10). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved October 23, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
