By: Cassy Plavicheanu, Ashley Zhang, Alaina Norzagaray, Kanae Sato

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder, common usually among young women of normal or nearly normal weight.

Characterized by: episodes of binge eating followed by feelings of guilt and depression.

Often going to extreme measures to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, dieting, or fasting.

History/Origin of Bulimia

Bulimia dates all the way to the times of the Romans, where it was common to vomit the food that they ate after a period of feasting.

Traces of Bulimia were also found in: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Arabia.

The first description of the modern bulimia nervosa was published in 1979 by Dr Russell.

Bulimia nervosa wasn’t accepted as a disease until the late 20th century.

Bulimia nervosa is different for everyone.

Some can live with it for only a few months while others can manage a long time before their system starts to shut down.

The best advice for bulimics is that they should seek help.

Signs/Symptoms: How long Signs/Symptoms: How long they should last before they should last before concernconcern

Continuous episodes of binge eating followed by self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives.

Loss of enamel on teeth & mouth sores Low levels of potassium or other blood

electrolyte imbalances Frequent weight changes Depression, anxiety, or guilt.

A job that requires one to be thin Peer pressure Criticism from family members about

their appearance Influence from the media Studies have shown children of bulimic

parents inherit half the chance of getting the eating disorder as well.

Therapy: provides a safe place to find the emotional and psychological problems causing the issue.

Treatment/Managing Bulimia: Treatment/Managing Bulimia: Treatment AvailableTreatment Available

Role of DietRole of Diet Dietitians are used to create the most

effective eating plan. They educate the bulimic on healthy eating patterns and diets.

Treatment/Managing Treatment/Managing Bulimia: Bulimia: Role of MedicineRole of Medicine

The most common kind of medicine used are anti-depressants.

Role of Family Support GivenRole of Family Support Given

In some cases, usually children and adolescents, family members are given the responsibility to make sure the bulimic is following a set or healthy diet.

Treatment/Managing Treatment/Managing Bulimia: Bulimia: Role of ExerciseRole of Exercise

Excessive exercise is often a component of the original disorder, so the role of exercise in recovery is often complex.

Controlled exercise may be used both as a way to reduce the stomach and intestinal distress that accompanies recovery & a reward for developing good eating habits.

If severe medical problems still exist and the patient has not gained significant weight, then exercise is not performed

Management of Problem: Short Term

Therapy

Forming healthy eating habits and sticking to them

Management of Problem: Long Term

Impact on: The Individual and Family

The individual often has very low self-esteem and needs their family to remind them of their worth

Some people feel angry toward the individual but this only reinforces his or her idea that she/he is bad or worthless.

Impact on: The Family

Parents often feel guilty Fear is natural but you can’t get

caught up in it.

Statistics on Bulimia

As many as 1in 7 women12-25 years old develop a case of bulimia.

Of people with anorexia or bulimia, 10-15% are males.

About 8 million Americans have an eating disorder – 7 million women and 1 million men.

Three “WOW!”’s: What We Learned

There are two types of bulimia nervosa: purging and non-purging

Emperors Claudius and Vitellius of Ancient Rome were bulimic.

Bulimia is more common in athletes than non-athletes.

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