Bulimia Nervosa, often now referred to as Bulimia, is a psychosomatic (a physical symptom from an emotional source) eating disorder whereby individuals become preoccupied with their body weight and shape. Sufferers of this disorder will have episodes of binge eating followed by self induced vomiting. The cycle of binging and then purging are the main symptoms. It predominately affects women aged in their mid to late teens to early forties, and is more common than Anorexia Nervosa.
Anorexia Nervosa, meaning “loss of appetite due to nerves”, is a psychosomatic eating disorder whereby individuals will deliberately attempt to lose weight. Sufferers will limit the amount they eat and drink to control how their body looks, and are often underweight as a result. They may also induce vomiting and take laxatives to feel ‘in control’ of their body. However, with time Anorexia can take control of the individual. It is a very common disorder which affects approximately 1 in 20 teenagers.
If you are worried that you are suffering from an eating disorder ask yourself the following questions: Do you make yourself sick when feeling uncomfortably full, or do you feel that you have lost control over how much you eat? Has preoccupation with food taken over your life, and do you feel fat when other people tell you that you are thin? Have you recently lost a lot of weight?
Treatments for eating disorders include talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), certain medications and self help measures. To find out more click here
Has an eating disorder affected your life? What advice would you give to sufferers of Bulimia and Anorexia?
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