Anorexia and Bulimia Facts explained

Anorexia and Bulimia Facts

Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia are defined as follows according to Microsoft Encarta:

"Anorexia Nervosa, in medicine, a condition characterized by intense fear of gaining weight or
becoming obese, as well as a distorted body image, leading to an excessive weight loss from restricting
food intake and excessive exercise. Anorexia nervosa is not associated with any preexisting physical illness. It is found chiefly in adolescents, especially young women. Between 5 and 18 percent of known anorexia nervosa victims die of starvation, and the condition may also lead to abnormalities in the menstrual cycle and increased susceptibility to infection. Persons with the condition may also exhibit
the practice, known as bulimia, of ingesting large quantities of food and then voiding it through self-induced vomiting in order to remain thin. Repeated vomiting depletes the body of fluids and of the element potassium, and the disturbance can adversely affect heart function."

"Bulimia, an eating disorder in which persistent overconcern with body weight and shape leads to repeated episodes of binging (consuming large amounts of food in a short time) associated with induced vomiting, use of laxatives, fasting, and/or excessive exercise to control weight. Bulimia was classified as a distinct disorder by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980; the name was changed to bulimia nervosa in 1987. Sometimes bulimic behavior is observed in cases of anorexia nervosa, or abnormal dieting, but bulimia in itself does not result in severe weight loss."

Some anorexia and bulimia facts are:

Characterization of these disorders are by a preoccupation with food and a distortion of body image. Many teenagers hide these serious and sometimes fatal disorders from their families and friends. A teenager with anorexia nervosa is typically a high achiever and a perfectionist in school. At the same time, she suffers from low self-esteem, irrationally believing she is fat regardless of how thin she becomes. Desperately needing a feeling of mastery over her life, the teenager with anorexia nervosa experiences a sense of control by restricting normal and essential food demands of her body. In a relentless pursuit to be thin, she starves herself. This often reaches the point of serious damage to the body, and in some cases may lead to death.
The symptoms of bulimia are usually different from those of anorexia nervosa. The patient binges on huge quantities of high-caloric food and/or purges her body of dreaded calories by self-induced vomiting and often by using laxatives. These binges may alternate with severe diets, resulting in dramatic weight fluctuations.
Teenagers may try to hide the signs of throwing up by running water while spending long periods of time in the bathroom. The purging of bulimia presents a serious threat to the patient's physical health, including dehydration, hormonal imbalances, the depletion of important minerals, and damage to vital organs. With comprehensive specialized treatment, 75% of patients eventually recover almost completely from eating disorders. Approximately half of the remaining 25% continue to have remissions and exacerbations, and the other half unfortunately die from complications of eating disorder prematurely.

Research shows that early identification and specialized treatment leads to more favorable outcomes. Parents who notice symptoms of anorexia and bulimia in their teenagers should ask their family physician or pediatrician for a referral to a psychiatrist or therapist specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. Families should be familiar with anorexia and bulimia facts to detect the symptoms early.

Typically, a teenager or young adult—most often a female—sets out to lose a certain number of pounds.
When she reaches her goal, however, she is still not satisfied. Looking in the mirror, she still sees herself as fat, and so she decides that shedding a few more pounds would be even better. This cycle continues until the dieter's weight falls to 15 percent or more below what is normal for her height. Anorexia and bulimia develops as a result. At this point friends and family members begin to express the fact that the dieter looks extremely thin, even emaciated. But the anorexia patient sees things differently.

Over time, anorexia can lead to serious health problems, including osteoporosis and kidney damage. It can even be fatal. In contrast to anorexia, bulimia is not easily recognized. The sufferer may not be unusually thin, and her eating habits may seem quite normal—at least to others. But for the bulimia patient, life is anything but normal. Indeed, she is so obsessed with food that everything else is unimportant.

Bulimia is extremely dangerous. For example, repeated purging by vomiting exposes the mouth to corrosive stomach acids, which can wear away the enamel of the bulimic's teeth. The practice can also damage the sufferer's esophagus, liver, lungs, and heart. In extreme cases, vomiting can cause stomach rupture and even death. Excessive laxative use can also be hazardous. It can destroy bowel function and can also lead to ongoing diarrhea and rectal bleeding. As with repeated vomiting, abuse of laxatives/diuretics can lead to death.

EATING disorders are not new. Anorexia nervosa was first formally diagnosed in 1873, and the symptoms have reportedly been observed as far back as 300 years ago. Since World War II, however, the number of anorexics appears to have increased dramatically. The situation is similar with bulimia. The condition has been known for centuries, but in recent decades the fact that it exploded onto center stage.

If your daughter has Anorexia and Bulimia or any other eating disorder and admits the fact that she needs to get help, do not postpone matters under the assumption that the problem will go away on its own. An eating disorder is a serious and complex illness, with physical, emotional, and social components.

Although experts may differ in their approach, most agree on at least one fact: Eating disorders are not just about food. Let us examine some of the deeper issues that typically need to be addressed in someone with anorexia and bulimia. It takes knowledge, expertise, experience, and skills to treat and manage Anorexia and Bulimia.