The Link Between Anorexia and Bulimia
by Thomas Morva
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Young women and men sometimes starve themselves. It doesn’t matter
how thin they may be— in their internal mirror, they are fat. Or they may
so afraid of gaining weight, yet so desperately hungry, that they eat and
eat until they feel so guilty that they must vomit up all the
food.
These people suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have
nothing to do with the digestive tract of the person. Rather, the illness
resides in the mind.
Anorexia and bulimia are the two most common eating disorders. They
tend to appear most commonly in women. In fact, 90 percent of all
cases are in women. Most eating disorders begin in the teenage years:
anorexia most often occurs around puberty, and bulimia hits a bit later.
People with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share the same fear,
guilt, and shame about food and fat. Still, they are two separate
disorders with different symptoms. People with anorexia starve and
exercise themselves thin. People with bulimia eat unhealthy amounts of
food and then vomit or purge themselves. People with anorexia or bulimia
tend to start at normal weights, but then suffer from poor nutrition as
well as the mental and emotional effects of having an eating disorder.
Some people with eating disorders may have a combination of anorexia and
bulimia.
People with anorexia or bulimia, despite their different behaviors
toward food, share many of the same symptoms. Both are undernourished,
and, as a result, may have dry skin, brittle hair and nails, be
constipated, and may be sensitive to temperature changes. Women may have
irregular periods. People with eating disorders may develop food rituals,
like only eating certain foods or at specific times, and they may eat in
secret. Even when thin, people with eating disorders think of themselves
as fat and are terrified of gaining weight.
Each eating disorder has its unique symptoms, however. People with
anorexia lose dramatic amounts of weight, eat little amounts of food, and
exercise excessively. People with bulimia, however, have symptoms related
to constant vomiting. Their stomach acid eats away at their teeth enamel,
burns their esophagus, and can cause the salivary glands to swell. People
with bulimia may also have cuts or bruises on their fingers from inducing
vomiting.
Both anorexia and bulimia are completely treatable. People with eating
disorders need professional help from doctors and psychiatrists. It may
take years to learn to control an eating disorder. Love and support from
friends and family are also needed for recovery from any eating
disorder.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bulimia provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and
effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship
between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the “pro bulimia”
viewpoint. For more information go to http://www.e-bulimia.com/ and/or
visit our affiliate site at http://www.original-content.net/.
Bulimia; Original Content.
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