By Michael Russell
There are several similarities and differences between Anorexia and Bulimia.
Similarities:
. Both Anorexia and Bulimia usually start in people after a time of dieting. These individuals generally go on a diet as they are obsessed with the fact of having perfect bodies, or are afraid of becoming obese, or have problems with anxiety, stress or even depression, or being a perfectionist. Therefore, sufferers of both eating disorders are obsessed with weight, appearance and food.
. Both anorexia and bulimia affect the internal organs.
. They are both life threatening eating disorders.
. Both bulimics and anorexics, regardless of how they look, they always are under the impression that they are overweight.
. Depression, fatigue and heart failure are three conditions suffered by both bulimics and anorexics.
. Excessive exercising in both.
Differences:
. Anorexics and Bulimics are both concerned about the opinions of other people, however bulimics tend to be more worried about being appealing to others and about pleasing others and having close relationships with people. As a result, they tend to be more active and sexually more experienced.
. Bulimics eat large quantities of food and then vomit or take laxatives and exercise to avoid gaining weight, whereas anorexics starve, exercise constantly and avoid food with high calories to avoid gaining weight.
. Anorexics have more obsessions or obsessive qualities than bulimics that compel them to control their calorific intake so strictly.
. In bulimics, history of mood swings are longer, controlling their impulses is difficult, they get frustrated or bored easily when compared with anorexics.
. Anorexics lose more weight than bulimics.
. Almost one hundred percent of women with anorexia suffer from a condition call Amenorrhea in which there is an absence of menstruation, whereas it is only fifty percent in women who suffer from bulimia.
. Anorexia occurs mainly in adolescent girls. However, the numbers of boys who suffer from it are on the increase. Bulimia occurs mainly in women from the age of 20 - 25 years of age.
. Medical problems that arise from bulimia are constipation, pain in stomach, sometimes the esophagus may rupture due to frequency of vomiting, as a result of frequent vomiting the acid causes tooth decay. Medical problems that arise from anorexia are anemia, low blood pressure, dehydration, reduced bone density, kidney failure and muscle loss.
. Bulimics feel they are not in control of their behavior therefore they are more likely to admit their problem whereas anorexics feel they are in control of their behavior and are therefore less likely to admit their problem.
. The various signs and symptoms of bulimia are discolored teeth, puffy face, fingers are swollen, visit to the toilet after ever meal to purge. The various signs and symptoms of anorexia are wearing baggy clothes to hide weight loss, scanty hair and dry skin, moody, feels cold no matter what the weather may be, dizziness, avoids food, weighs food, counts calories, growth of fine hair on some parts of the body, takes diet pills.
. Treatment of bulimia is generally to get rid of the habit of binging and purging whereas the treatment of anorexia takes place in three stages that is to restore the weight lost, treat the underlying emotional problems such as depression, low self-esteem and achieve long-term recovery.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
An Overview Of The Three Main Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia And Binge Eating
By Tim Gorman
Eating disorders have become a great deal more prevalent since the 1970s. An eating disorder is basically a condition characterized by an obsessive and long-term negative relationship with food or body image. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why eating disorders have become more common, but certainly many people point the finger at the media, which has increased the level of body consciousness and objectification in society. An eating disorder is likely to develop in around 10 to 15 percent of all adolescent and young women in the USA. Although eating disorders are generally considered to be a female disease, it's also true that men can develop them as well, even though it's much less common. Weight conscious athletes are particularly susceptible. So let's take a look at the three main types of eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa has an obsessive desire to be thin. They will do anything that's necessary to achieve that goal, even to the point of starving themselves. Approximately 95 percent of anorexia patients are women, and a high proportion of those are young and adolescent women with middle or upper class economic and social background. They often suffer extreme feelings of self-loathing and self-esteem. Often the obsession with their weight spreads to other areas of their life, including obsessive behaviors in school, relationships and work. They may also develop obsessive and demanding exercise routines. Unfortunately, as the weight loss progresses, other health conditions also surface. These can include general poor health, susceptibility to colds, bouts of constipation, fatigue, lightheadedness and weakness, cramps in the abdomen and a reduced level of potassium. Some patients easily lost 25 percent or more of their body weight.
Bulimia
In a similar way to sufferers of anorexia, bulimia sufferers have an overwhelming obsession with their body. They indulge in binge eating episodes, and then afterwards they will induce vomiting to get rid of all the food. They struggle to eat food in a normal pattern. It's quite common for bulimia sufferers to have had anorexia in the past, or for the condition to progress to anorexia. Bulimia patients, however, are usually of normal weight. When they're binging, a bulimia sufferer can eat as may as 15,000 to 20,000 calories in one period. This can lead to extreme and intense mood swings, alternating between elation to deep depression very quickly. The binging is followed by intense shame and guilt for what they've done. This leads to the sufferer purging the food from their system as quickly as possible by inducing vomiting.
Binge Eating
Although the two eating disorders already discussed are the most well known ones, binge eating disorder can be just as detrimental. A sufferer from binge eating disorder will eat high calorie foods to an excessive level. It's quite common for sufferers to become much more obese than the average person. This type of eating is often linked to depression, and is a form of emotional eating. It can usually be treated with reasonable success by psychotherapy and antidepressants.
For more helpful and important information on the signs of anorexia, types of eating disorders and what causes anorexia please visit Coping-With-Eating-Disorders.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
Eating disorders have become a great deal more prevalent since the 1970s. An eating disorder is basically a condition characterized by an obsessive and long-term negative relationship with food or body image. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why eating disorders have become more common, but certainly many people point the finger at the media, which has increased the level of body consciousness and objectification in society. An eating disorder is likely to develop in around 10 to 15 percent of all adolescent and young women in the USA. Although eating disorders are generally considered to be a female disease, it's also true that men can develop them as well, even though it's much less common. Weight conscious athletes are particularly susceptible. So let's take a look at the three main types of eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa has an obsessive desire to be thin. They will do anything that's necessary to achieve that goal, even to the point of starving themselves. Approximately 95 percent of anorexia patients are women, and a high proportion of those are young and adolescent women with middle or upper class economic and social background. They often suffer extreme feelings of self-loathing and self-esteem. Often the obsession with their weight spreads to other areas of their life, including obsessive behaviors in school, relationships and work. They may also develop obsessive and demanding exercise routines. Unfortunately, as the weight loss progresses, other health conditions also surface. These can include general poor health, susceptibility to colds, bouts of constipation, fatigue, lightheadedness and weakness, cramps in the abdomen and a reduced level of potassium. Some patients easily lost 25 percent or more of their body weight.
Bulimia
In a similar way to sufferers of anorexia, bulimia sufferers have an overwhelming obsession with their body. They indulge in binge eating episodes, and then afterwards they will induce vomiting to get rid of all the food. They struggle to eat food in a normal pattern. It's quite common for bulimia sufferers to have had anorexia in the past, or for the condition to progress to anorexia. Bulimia patients, however, are usually of normal weight. When they're binging, a bulimia sufferer can eat as may as 15,000 to 20,000 calories in one period. This can lead to extreme and intense mood swings, alternating between elation to deep depression very quickly. The binging is followed by intense shame and guilt for what they've done. This leads to the sufferer purging the food from their system as quickly as possible by inducing vomiting.
Binge Eating
Although the two eating disorders already discussed are the most well known ones, binge eating disorder can be just as detrimental. A sufferer from binge eating disorder will eat high calorie foods to an excessive level. It's quite common for sufferers to become much more obese than the average person. This type of eating is often linked to depression, and is a form of emotional eating. It can usually be treated with reasonable success by psychotherapy and antidepressants.
For more helpful and important information on the signs of anorexia, types of eating disorders and what causes anorexia please visit Coping-With-Eating-Disorders.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
Monday, December 11, 2006
Laxative Abuse For Bulimia
By Sandra Kim Leong
If you are bulimic, you may engage in laxative abuse as you believe laxatives can stimulate your digestive system so that the food that you have just consumed would not be absorbed. Bulimia is characterized by an episode of binge eating followed by intentional purging. Bulimics either purge through vomiting or laxatives.
Very often, you feel guilty and ashamed that you are not able to control your eating binges. Instead of consuming a burger, you ate three or four for lunch. You end up feeling very stuffed. At the same time, you are concerned about the weight that you will put on. That is when you decide to engage in purging to attain fast weight loss or at least, not gain through the nutrients from the food that you just ate. If you use laxatives for purging on a regular basis, this is highly dangerous.
It is a mere myth to believe that laxatives can actually help to lose weight. Laxatives cause the nerve endings within your bowel to be stimulated so much so that you need to go to the toilet. Waste located within the large intestine are then expelled. However, it is not your large intestine that absorbs nutrients from the food. It is simply a path for waste to go through once your body has digested the food. Where digestion of food takes place is actually in the small intestine.
Food inside the small intestine cannot be removed from the body with the use of laxative. Weight loss after taking laxatives is often water weight, which does not indicate true weight loss. Laxatives have simply caused a dehydration of the body. When subjected to abuse, they cause many problems.
Laxative abuse causes an electrolyte imbalance, thus affecting the normal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the body. You start to experience muscle pain and spasms. It is also possible to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can result in death. Laxative abuse can also cause your colon to lose its mucous membrane. You become more susceptible to getting infection as your immune system shuts down. You are also more prone to getting irritable bowel syndrome and bowel tumors due to laxative abuse.
If you have thoughts of using laxatives to control your weight, you should really seek help. Doctors can render you good advice and find out what problems you need to tackle. Both your mind and body needs to be healed so that you can achieve greater health, an ideal weight and superb well being.
Eating disorders can be very damaging to your health. Sandra Kim Leong writes on the ills of anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and binge eating. For more information and updates, please visit her blog at http://www.eating-disorder-research.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Kim_Leong
If you are bulimic, you may engage in laxative abuse as you believe laxatives can stimulate your digestive system so that the food that you have just consumed would not be absorbed. Bulimia is characterized by an episode of binge eating followed by intentional purging. Bulimics either purge through vomiting or laxatives.
Very often, you feel guilty and ashamed that you are not able to control your eating binges. Instead of consuming a burger, you ate three or four for lunch. You end up feeling very stuffed. At the same time, you are concerned about the weight that you will put on. That is when you decide to engage in purging to attain fast weight loss or at least, not gain through the nutrients from the food that you just ate. If you use laxatives for purging on a regular basis, this is highly dangerous.
It is a mere myth to believe that laxatives can actually help to lose weight. Laxatives cause the nerve endings within your bowel to be stimulated so much so that you need to go to the toilet. Waste located within the large intestine are then expelled. However, it is not your large intestine that absorbs nutrients from the food. It is simply a path for waste to go through once your body has digested the food. Where digestion of food takes place is actually in the small intestine.
Food inside the small intestine cannot be removed from the body with the use of laxative. Weight loss after taking laxatives is often water weight, which does not indicate true weight loss. Laxatives have simply caused a dehydration of the body. When subjected to abuse, they cause many problems.
Laxative abuse causes an electrolyte imbalance, thus affecting the normal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the body. You start to experience muscle pain and spasms. It is also possible to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can result in death. Laxative abuse can also cause your colon to lose its mucous membrane. You become more susceptible to getting infection as your immune system shuts down. You are also more prone to getting irritable bowel syndrome and bowel tumors due to laxative abuse.
If you have thoughts of using laxatives to control your weight, you should really seek help. Doctors can render you good advice and find out what problems you need to tackle. Both your mind and body needs to be healed so that you can achieve greater health, an ideal weight and superb well being.
Eating disorders can be very damaging to your health. Sandra Kim Leong writes on the ills of anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and binge eating. For more information and updates, please visit her blog at http://www.eating-disorder-research.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Kim_Leong
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Eating Disorder - Bulimia Nervosa
By Michael Russell
Bulimia was first diagnosed only in the 1980s. The word Bulimia, which is Latin or Boulimia, which is Greek, means extreme hunger.
In this eating disorder, the individual binges and then purges which can be in the form of vomiting, exercising to excess or using laxatives or enemas, in order to try and get rid of the excess calories. This takes place in a cycle of binging and purging. It is considered to be a psychological condition related to insecurity, depression, self-esteem or anxiety and not a response to hunger. During these binging/purging cycles, the individual has no control over the situation. This is followed by a sense of calmness then followed by a sense of self-loathing.
The binging varies from individual to individual; in one person a binge may be considered to be the consumption of even a small toffee whilst in another person it may be a whole meal with a calorie value of anything from about 1000 to 20000 calories.
This is an eating disorder found very commonly in girls in their late teens and early adulthood. However, it does affect all types of individuals, even older women. Men do suffer from bulimia but very rarely. In this condition, the individual may even steal food or even eat from dustbins in order to satisfy the compulsion. They are aware of what they are doing and sometimes feel ashamed of it, very often therefore these binges occur in secret. Hence it is very difficult to say if a person is suffering from Bulimia and also most bulimics look either of normal weight or sometimes a little overweight.
In bulimics, the only source of comfort is food. However, sufferers of bulimia often realize they have a problem and generally would seek help for it.
Causes of bulimia
There is no exact known cause of bulimia. However, it is supposed to be as a result of a person not being satisfied with his/her body shape. It is also said to be a genetic problem. Individuals who also suffer from low self-esteem and fear becoming fat, tend to become bulimic. It is more to do with psychological issues rather than issues concerned with food.
Some other causes may be:
In people who have problems showing anger, or have a difficult time coping with impulsive behavior. . Women from a particular culture are under pressure to have a perfect figure, with so much of images of flawlessness and shapely females all over the place. This is not only true of women but become increasingly important for men too, that is, to have a good physique. . Changes in jobs, competition, traumatic events all can bring about bulimia. . Parental pressure on their children to maintain a shapely or thin figure can be another reason for children to become bulimic.
Some signs that an individual could be bulimic:
Eating in secret, binge eating, fluctuations in weight usually ranging between ten and fifteen pounds, constant vomiting leading to swollen and soreness in the salivary glands, using diet pills or laxatives, rigorous exercising, depression and mood swings, muscle weakness and fatigue, teeth getting decayed because of constantly being exposed to gastric juices which are acidic, heart beat is irregular, sore throat, suicidal tendencies, fasting, visiting the bathroom after every meal, always seeking other people's approval, broken blood vessels especially in the eyes.
There are essentially three types of Bulimia Nervosa. They are Simple Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexic Bulimia Nervosa and multi-impulsive Bulimia Nervosa.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Bulimia was first diagnosed only in the 1980s. The word Bulimia, which is Latin or Boulimia, which is Greek, means extreme hunger.
In this eating disorder, the individual binges and then purges which can be in the form of vomiting, exercising to excess or using laxatives or enemas, in order to try and get rid of the excess calories. This takes place in a cycle of binging and purging. It is considered to be a psychological condition related to insecurity, depression, self-esteem or anxiety and not a response to hunger. During these binging/purging cycles, the individual has no control over the situation. This is followed by a sense of calmness then followed by a sense of self-loathing.
The binging varies from individual to individual; in one person a binge may be considered to be the consumption of even a small toffee whilst in another person it may be a whole meal with a calorie value of anything from about 1000 to 20000 calories.
This is an eating disorder found very commonly in girls in their late teens and early adulthood. However, it does affect all types of individuals, even older women. Men do suffer from bulimia but very rarely. In this condition, the individual may even steal food or even eat from dustbins in order to satisfy the compulsion. They are aware of what they are doing and sometimes feel ashamed of it, very often therefore these binges occur in secret. Hence it is very difficult to say if a person is suffering from Bulimia and also most bulimics look either of normal weight or sometimes a little overweight.
In bulimics, the only source of comfort is food. However, sufferers of bulimia often realize they have a problem and generally would seek help for it.
Causes of bulimia
There is no exact known cause of bulimia. However, it is supposed to be as a result of a person not being satisfied with his/her body shape. It is also said to be a genetic problem. Individuals who also suffer from low self-esteem and fear becoming fat, tend to become bulimic. It is more to do with psychological issues rather than issues concerned with food.
Some other causes may be:
In people who have problems showing anger, or have a difficult time coping with impulsive behavior. . Women from a particular culture are under pressure to have a perfect figure, with so much of images of flawlessness and shapely females all over the place. This is not only true of women but become increasingly important for men too, that is, to have a good physique. . Changes in jobs, competition, traumatic events all can bring about bulimia. . Parental pressure on their children to maintain a shapely or thin figure can be another reason for children to become bulimic.
Some signs that an individual could be bulimic:
Eating in secret, binge eating, fluctuations in weight usually ranging between ten and fifteen pounds, constant vomiting leading to swollen and soreness in the salivary glands, using diet pills or laxatives, rigorous exercising, depression and mood swings, muscle weakness and fatigue, teeth getting decayed because of constantly being exposed to gastric juices which are acidic, heart beat is irregular, sore throat, suicidal tendencies, fasting, visiting the bathroom after every meal, always seeking other people's approval, broken blood vessels especially in the eyes.
There are essentially three types of Bulimia Nervosa. They are Simple Bulimia Nervosa, Anorexic Bulimia Nervosa and multi-impulsive Bulimia Nervosa.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Eating Disorders
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
The Symptoms of Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa
By Janie Jonah
One of the most notable symptoms of anorexia and bulimia is the fast and excessive loss of weight. The also wear large clothing to hide their skinny build caused by dramatic weight loss.
Complaining about being overweight as food becomes central to there life, often finding an excuse not to eat and when they do there obsession with counting calories and choice of what to eat is fed by their obsession to lose weight. They become uncharacteristically uncomfortable around food and often display bizarre behaviour when eating such as playing with their food in an attempt to either prevent eating it, or trying to minimize caloric intake by restricting eating to diet foods only. They also cut the food up into tiny pieces, and try not to touch food with the lips. Sometimes they also spit the food out into a napkin so they can bin it later. So as you can see, they become fearful of eating around others because it threatens their attempt to lose weight. Eating in public is even more of a difficulty for sufferers. After eating meals they sometimes flush uneaten food down the toilet and also usually vomit the food up frequently while attempting to hide the behaviour but frequent toilet flushing or by running the shower to hide the noise associated with vomiting. This is known as bingeing and purging. They are in-effect starving themselves, in as much as 20% of cases, literally to death. They also use dieting pills and laxatives but keep these hidden from others. There bingeing eating is also kept hidden from others. They also hide food in strange places like under the bed, suitcases and bathroom cupboards either for disposal or later eating. They are also secretive about their eating patterns.
They can become obsessive when it comes to exercise, working out frequently above recommended guidelines. They develop muscle weakness and they complain about being overweight even when they are noticeably underweight, and may well appear to be malnourished.
There obsession leads to them monitoring their weight very often on an hourly basis. They develop feelings of guilt, depression and mood swings. Their feelings of self-worth center around there eating habits and how successful they are at losing weight fast. Obsessive thoughts center around eating, losing weight and cooking. They often cook for others but seldom eat with them, giving an excuse for not eating.
Some of the physical symptoms of anorexia and bulimia are, the loss of hair, the skin appearing to be turning pale. They can also suffer from low blood pressure. Women can also experience a disruption in their menstrual cycle which can become irregular or cease altogether. They often become constipated and have little or no interest in sexual activity. They are prone to headaches, dizzy spells and fainting. Their sleeping patterns can also become disrupted and can sometimes be disguised or explained away as insomnia. Constantly feeling cold and fatigued is also a symptom of anorexia and bulimia.
Author: Janie Jonah Canada Drug Store Online
(c) 2006, PerfectDrugRx. All rights in all media reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janie_Jonah
One of the most notable symptoms of anorexia and bulimia is the fast and excessive loss of weight. The also wear large clothing to hide their skinny build caused by dramatic weight loss.
Complaining about being overweight as food becomes central to there life, often finding an excuse not to eat and when they do there obsession with counting calories and choice of what to eat is fed by their obsession to lose weight. They become uncharacteristically uncomfortable around food and often display bizarre behaviour when eating such as playing with their food in an attempt to either prevent eating it, or trying to minimize caloric intake by restricting eating to diet foods only. They also cut the food up into tiny pieces, and try not to touch food with the lips. Sometimes they also spit the food out into a napkin so they can bin it later. So as you can see, they become fearful of eating around others because it threatens their attempt to lose weight. Eating in public is even more of a difficulty for sufferers. After eating meals they sometimes flush uneaten food down the toilet and also usually vomit the food up frequently while attempting to hide the behaviour but frequent toilet flushing or by running the shower to hide the noise associated with vomiting. This is known as bingeing and purging. They are in-effect starving themselves, in as much as 20% of cases, literally to death. They also use dieting pills and laxatives but keep these hidden from others. There bingeing eating is also kept hidden from others. They also hide food in strange places like under the bed, suitcases and bathroom cupboards either for disposal or later eating. They are also secretive about their eating patterns.
They can become obsessive when it comes to exercise, working out frequently above recommended guidelines. They develop muscle weakness and they complain about being overweight even when they are noticeably underweight, and may well appear to be malnourished.
There obsession leads to them monitoring their weight very often on an hourly basis. They develop feelings of guilt, depression and mood swings. Their feelings of self-worth center around there eating habits and how successful they are at losing weight fast. Obsessive thoughts center around eating, losing weight and cooking. They often cook for others but seldom eat with them, giving an excuse for not eating.
Some of the physical symptoms of anorexia and bulimia are, the loss of hair, the skin appearing to be turning pale. They can also suffer from low blood pressure. Women can also experience a disruption in their menstrual cycle which can become irregular or cease altogether. They often become constipated and have little or no interest in sexual activity. They are prone to headaches, dizzy spells and fainting. Their sleeping patterns can also become disrupted and can sometimes be disguised or explained away as insomnia. Constantly feeling cold and fatigued is also a symptom of anorexia and bulimia.
Author: Janie Jonah Canada Drug Store Online
(c) 2006, PerfectDrugRx. All rights in all media reserved. Reprints must include byline, contact information and copyright.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Janie_Jonah
Monday, December 4, 2006
An Overview Of The Three Main Eating Disorders - Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia And Binge Eating
By Tim Gorman
Eating disorders have become a great deal more prevalent since the 1970s. An eating disorder is basically a condition characterized by an obsessive and long-term negative relationship with food or body image. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why eating disorders have become more common, but certainly many people point the finger at the media, which has increased the level of body consciousness and objectification in society. An eating disorder is likely to develop in around 10 to 15 percent of all adolescent and young women in the USA. Although eating disorders are generally considered to be a female disease, it's also true that men can develop them as well, even though it's much less common. Weight conscious athletes are particularly susceptible. So let's take a look at the three main types of eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa has an obsessive desire to be thin. They will do anything that's necessary to achieve that goal, even to the point of starving themselves. Approximately 95 percent of anorexia patients are women, and a high proportion of those are young and adolescent women with middle or upper class economic and social background. They often suffer extreme feelings of self-loathing and self-esteem. Often the obsession with their weight spreads to other areas of their life, including obsessive behaviors in school, relationships and work. They may also develop obsessive and demanding exercise routines. Unfortunately, as the weight loss progresses, other health conditions also surface. These can include general poor health, susceptibility to colds, bouts of constipation, fatigue, lightheadedness and weakness, cramps in the abdomen and a reduced level of potassium. Some patients easily lost 25 percent or more of their body weight.
Bulimia
In a similar way to sufferers of anorexia, bulimia sufferers have an overwhelming obsession with their body. They indulge in binge eating episodes, and then afterwards they will induce vomiting to get rid of all the food. They struggle to eat food in a normal pattern. It's quite common for bulimia sufferers to have had anorexia in the past, or for the condition to progress to anorexia. Bulimia patients, however, are usually of normal weight. When they're binging, a bulimia sufferer can eat as may as 15,000 to 20,000 calories in one period. This can lead to extreme and intense mood swings, alternating between elation to deep depression very quickly. The binging is followed by intense shame and guilt for what they've done. This leads to the sufferer purging the food from their system as quickly as possible by inducing vomiting.
Binge Eating
Although the two eating disorders already discussed are the most well known ones, binge eating disorder can be just as detrimental. A sufferer from binge eating disorder will eat high calorie foods to an excessive level. It's quite common for sufferers to become much more obese than the average person. This type of eating is often linked to depression, and is a form of emotional eating. It can usually be treated with reasonable success by psychotherapy and antidepressants.
For more helpful and important information on the signs of anorexia, types of eating disorders and what causes anorexia please visit Coping-With-Eating-Disorders.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
Eating disorders have become a great deal more prevalent since the 1970s. An eating disorder is basically a condition characterized by an obsessive and long-term negative relationship with food or body image. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why eating disorders have become more common, but certainly many people point the finger at the media, which has increased the level of body consciousness and objectification in society. An eating disorder is likely to develop in around 10 to 15 percent of all adolescent and young women in the USA. Although eating disorders are generally considered to be a female disease, it's also true that men can develop them as well, even though it's much less common. Weight conscious athletes are particularly susceptible. So let's take a look at the three main types of eating disorder.
Anorexia Nervosa
Someone who suffers from anorexia nervosa has an obsessive desire to be thin. They will do anything that's necessary to achieve that goal, even to the point of starving themselves. Approximately 95 percent of anorexia patients are women, and a high proportion of those are young and adolescent women with middle or upper class economic and social background. They often suffer extreme feelings of self-loathing and self-esteem. Often the obsession with their weight spreads to other areas of their life, including obsessive behaviors in school, relationships and work. They may also develop obsessive and demanding exercise routines. Unfortunately, as the weight loss progresses, other health conditions also surface. These can include general poor health, susceptibility to colds, bouts of constipation, fatigue, lightheadedness and weakness, cramps in the abdomen and a reduced level of potassium. Some patients easily lost 25 percent or more of their body weight.
Bulimia
In a similar way to sufferers of anorexia, bulimia sufferers have an overwhelming obsession with their body. They indulge in binge eating episodes, and then afterwards they will induce vomiting to get rid of all the food. They struggle to eat food in a normal pattern. It's quite common for bulimia sufferers to have had anorexia in the past, or for the condition to progress to anorexia. Bulimia patients, however, are usually of normal weight. When they're binging, a bulimia sufferer can eat as may as 15,000 to 20,000 calories in one period. This can lead to extreme and intense mood swings, alternating between elation to deep depression very quickly. The binging is followed by intense shame and guilt for what they've done. This leads to the sufferer purging the food from their system as quickly as possible by inducing vomiting.
Binge Eating
Although the two eating disorders already discussed are the most well known ones, binge eating disorder can be just as detrimental. A sufferer from binge eating disorder will eat high calorie foods to an excessive level. It's quite common for sufferers to become much more obese than the average person. This type of eating is often linked to depression, and is a form of emotional eating. It can usually be treated with reasonable success by psychotherapy and antidepressants.
For more helpful and important information on the signs of anorexia, types of eating disorders and what causes anorexia please visit Coping-With-Eating-Disorders.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman
Laxative Abuse For Bulimia
By Sandra Kim Leong
If you are bulimic, you may engage in laxative abuse as you believe laxatives can stimulate your digestive system so that the food that you have just consumed would not be absorbed. Bulimia is characterized by an episode of binge eating followed by intentional purging. Bulimics either purge through vomiting or laxatives.
Very often, you feel guilty and ashamed that you are not able to control your eating binges. Instead of consuming a burger, you ate three or four for lunch. You end up feeling very stuffed. At the same time, you are concerned about the weight that you will put on. That is when you decide to engage in purging to attain fast weight loss or at least, not gain through the nutrients from the food that you just ate. If you use laxatives for purging on a regular basis, this is highly dangerous.
It is a mere myth to believe that laxatives can actually help to lose weight. Laxatives cause the nerve endings within your bowel to be stimulated so much so that you need to go to the toilet. Waste located within the large intestine are then expelled. However, it is not your large intestine that absorbs nutrients from the food. It is simply a path for waste to go through once your body has digested the food. Where digestion of food takes place is actually in the small intestine.
Food inside the small intestine cannot be removed from the body with the use of laxative. Weight loss after taking laxatives is often water weight, which does not indicate true weight loss. Laxatives have simply caused a dehydration of the body. When subjected to abuse, they cause many problems.
Laxative abuse causes an electrolyte imbalance, thus affecting the normal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the body. You start to experience muscle pain and spasms. It is also possible to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can result in death. Laxative abuse can also cause your colon to lose its mucous membrane. You become more susceptible to getting infection as your immune system shuts down. You are also more prone to getting irritable bowel syndrome and bowel tumors due to laxative abuse.
If you have thoughts of using laxatives to control your weight, you should really seek help. Doctors can render you good advice and find out what problems you need to tackle. Both your mind and body needs to be healed so that you can achieve greater health, an ideal weight and superb well being.
Eating disorders can be very damaging to your health. Sandra Kim Leong writes on the ills of anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and binge eating. For more information and updates, please visit her blog at http://www.eating-disorder-research.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Kim_Leong
If you are bulimic, you may engage in laxative abuse as you believe laxatives can stimulate your digestive system so that the food that you have just consumed would not be absorbed. Bulimia is characterized by an episode of binge eating followed by intentional purging. Bulimics either purge through vomiting or laxatives.
Very often, you feel guilty and ashamed that you are not able to control your eating binges. Instead of consuming a burger, you ate three or four for lunch. You end up feeling very stuffed. At the same time, you are concerned about the weight that you will put on. That is when you decide to engage in purging to attain fast weight loss or at least, not gain through the nutrients from the food that you just ate. If you use laxatives for purging on a regular basis, this is highly dangerous.
It is a mere myth to believe that laxatives can actually help to lose weight. Laxatives cause the nerve endings within your bowel to be stimulated so much so that you need to go to the toilet. Waste located within the large intestine are then expelled. However, it is not your large intestine that absorbs nutrients from the food. It is simply a path for waste to go through once your body has digested the food. Where digestion of food takes place is actually in the small intestine.
Food inside the small intestine cannot be removed from the body with the use of laxative. Weight loss after taking laxatives is often water weight, which does not indicate true weight loss. Laxatives have simply caused a dehydration of the body. When subjected to abuse, they cause many problems.
Laxative abuse causes an electrolyte imbalance, thus affecting the normal functioning of the nerves and muscles of the body. You start to experience muscle pain and spasms. It is also possible to develop an irregular heartbeat, which can result in death. Laxative abuse can also cause your colon to lose its mucous membrane. You become more susceptible to getting infection as your immune system shuts down. You are also more prone to getting irritable bowel syndrome and bowel tumors due to laxative abuse.
If you have thoughts of using laxatives to control your weight, you should really seek help. Doctors can render you good advice and find out what problems you need to tackle. Both your mind and body needs to be healed so that you can achieve greater health, an ideal weight and superb well being.
Eating disorders can be very damaging to your health. Sandra Kim Leong writes on the ills of anorexia, bulimia, compulsive overeating and binge eating. For more information and updates, please visit her blog at http://www.eating-disorder-research.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Kim_Leong
Acid Reflux Symptoms - The Ill Effects Of Bulimia
By Khim Lyn Lim
Your bulimic eating behaviour can create harm to your digestive system and also cause you to develop acid reflux symptoms. You are considered bulimic when you have regular binge eating episodes and then you follow these episodes with purging either through vomiting or taking laxatives of your food. You force yourself to vomit or take laxatives as you do not want to gain weight.
During the binge eating phase, you have found it hard to stop yourself from eating. You end up over stuffing yourself. Instead of consuming one burger, you are eating ten, for instance. When you do this, it may be that you are undergoing some psychological trauma and look for ways to overcome or forget your grief. You are also likely to have a low self esteem and confidence in yourself. It may also be that you are not actually overweight but because you feel extremely guilty over your inability to stop eating, you feel that it is necessary to purge all that food after that.
However, forcing yourself to vomit immediately after eating can cause plenty of harm to your body. Vomiting after eating removes both the food from the stomach and also the acid produced by the stomach for digestion. As you vomit, the stomach acid is forced up your esophagus. Eventually, as you vomit on a regular basis at least once or twice a day, your esophagus becomes itchy and stinging. You develop acid reflux symptoms and also GERD. Increasingly, you will find it tough to even swallow the food properly.
Over the long run, bulimia not only damages your esophagus but can also wear down your stomach lining and eventually result in death. Indeed, people have died because of bulimia and its consequences.
If you do not treat bulimia, then over a long period, you may suffer from malnutrition. Damage to your body can also become permanent for the rest of your life. Sadly, many do not realize the importance of getting treatment until it is too late.
The only way to overcome your eating disorder and get relief from your acid reflux symptoms is to first recognize that you have bulimia. Once you recognize this, then you should get into a treatment program meant to help bulimics. You will need to go through some psychological counseling as it is important to boost your self esteem and confidence. You need to realize that you are hurting yourself with your bulimia eating disorder.
Then again, although you may recover from bulimia, you may continue to have acid reflux symptoms. This is because damage to your esophagus has already been made internally. You will need to consume some medication to help prevent the acid from returning to the esophagus. Some changes also need to be made to your eating and lifestyle habits to keep your acid reflux symptoms under control. However, these changes should place you in good stead to lead a healthy normal life.
Acid reflux symptoms can be easily treated with diet and lifestyle changes. For more information and resource, please visit this site here at http://www.treat-acid-reflux.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Khim_Lyn_Lim
Your bulimic eating behaviour can create harm to your digestive system and also cause you to develop acid reflux symptoms. You are considered bulimic when you have regular binge eating episodes and then you follow these episodes with purging either through vomiting or taking laxatives of your food. You force yourself to vomit or take laxatives as you do not want to gain weight.
During the binge eating phase, you have found it hard to stop yourself from eating. You end up over stuffing yourself. Instead of consuming one burger, you are eating ten, for instance. When you do this, it may be that you are undergoing some psychological trauma and look for ways to overcome or forget your grief. You are also likely to have a low self esteem and confidence in yourself. It may also be that you are not actually overweight but because you feel extremely guilty over your inability to stop eating, you feel that it is necessary to purge all that food after that.
However, forcing yourself to vomit immediately after eating can cause plenty of harm to your body. Vomiting after eating removes both the food from the stomach and also the acid produced by the stomach for digestion. As you vomit, the stomach acid is forced up your esophagus. Eventually, as you vomit on a regular basis at least once or twice a day, your esophagus becomes itchy and stinging. You develop acid reflux symptoms and also GERD. Increasingly, you will find it tough to even swallow the food properly.
Over the long run, bulimia not only damages your esophagus but can also wear down your stomach lining and eventually result in death. Indeed, people have died because of bulimia and its consequences.
If you do not treat bulimia, then over a long period, you may suffer from malnutrition. Damage to your body can also become permanent for the rest of your life. Sadly, many do not realize the importance of getting treatment until it is too late.
The only way to overcome your eating disorder and get relief from your acid reflux symptoms is to first recognize that you have bulimia. Once you recognize this, then you should get into a treatment program meant to help bulimics. You will need to go through some psychological counseling as it is important to boost your self esteem and confidence. You need to realize that you are hurting yourself with your bulimia eating disorder.
Then again, although you may recover from bulimia, you may continue to have acid reflux symptoms. This is because damage to your esophagus has already been made internally. You will need to consume some medication to help prevent the acid from returning to the esophagus. Some changes also need to be made to your eating and lifestyle habits to keep your acid reflux symptoms under control. However, these changes should place you in good stead to lead a healthy normal life.
Acid reflux symptoms can be easily treated with diet and lifestyle changes. For more information and resource, please visit this site here at http://www.treat-acid-reflux.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Khim_Lyn_Lim
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