What is Anorexia?
Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric condition in which people intentionally starve themselves due to their intense fear of being fat. Generally, anorexics either think they are already fat or are afraid that they will become fat. As quoted from Medbroadcast.com, "It is estimated that more than 90% of all those diagnosed with anorexia nervosa are female, often from middle and upper socioeconomics backgrounds." In addition, anorexia usually starts around the age of fourteen. Isn't it hard to believe that there are fourteen year olds with eating disorders? Children, not even fully developed, are starving themselves because they fear becoming fat. Anorexic people have been known to continuously strive towards perfection. They have high standards and feel like they have something to prove to people. Another reason anorexia can occur is if the person feels like all he/she can control in life is his/her weight.
If the anorexia starts before puberty, menstruation will not begin. If it occurs after puberty, menstruation will stop, which is also unhealthy, and the body will start to shut down. People diagnosed with anorexia usually resist the help of others. Why would someone want to admit that the one thing they thought they had control over, their eating habits, is out of control? Most of the time, the person does not even see anything wrong with their problem. Anorexia gets worse without professional help. The hardest thing about helping a person suffering from anorexia is their unwillingness to recognize their problem. Medbroadcast.com states that anorexia can be fatal, with half the deaths resulting from suicide and half from the complications of the illness. The website also goes on to say that about 70% of people who receive therapy in a timely manner will make a full recovery. But in some cases, anorexia becomes a lifelong problem and may require long-term counseling and management.
What is Bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled or compulsive binge eating, usually followed by inappropriate efforts trying to get rid of the food. Most often, this involves purging by self-induced vomiting or abuse of laxatives, enameas or diurects (medbroadcast.com). These habits are referred to as binging and purging. A person eats a gross amount of food (binging), and then feels so guilty that they throw it up (purging). Bulimics may also use ridiculous amounts of exercise to make up for their binging. For example, instead of throwing up all the food they just ate, they may go run for a crazy amount of time. At medbroadcast.com, it is stated that a bulimic may use as many as 20 laxatives or more at a time as a method of ridding their body of the food.
Unlike anorexia, bulimia usually begins between the ages of 18 and 20, but that does not mean younger or older people are immune. (Under the ‘Interviews’ section of this site, you can read the account of a highschool-aged girl that likely shared the illness with her mother!) People with bulimia are aware of what they are doing and usually do not feel like they are in control of the situation. Their menstrual cycles may or may not be affected, but constant vomiting commonly causes complications. Dental problems and inflammation of the esophagus (called esophagitis) may occur just from throwing up (medbroadcast.com). It is not uncommon for someone to first try anorexia and then bulimia. Starvation becomes too difficult, and often results in binge eating. This behavior leads to guilt, and then bulimic behavior. It is highly possible that this person also suffers from depression. Bulimic people typically want to seek help because they know their disorder is bad for their body. They are very aware of what they are doing to their health, but they might be scared to admit their problem. Anti-depressants are often prescribed, and people with bulimia rarely are hospitalized.
Symptoms of Anorexia
Medbroadcast.com states that these are signs of anorexia
- missed, or absence of, menstrual periods
- constipation
- intolerance to cold
- dizziness
- irritability
- depression
- inability to concentrate
- dehydration
- faintness or weakness
- slow heart beat
- low blood pressure
- loss of body fat
- dry, scaly skin
- psychological fears of obesity and weight gain
Symptoms of bulimia
Medbroadcast.com states that these are signs of bulimia:
- dehydration (due to excess use of laxatives or frequent self-induced vomiting
- tooth decay and erosion (due to the acids that are brought up from severe and constant vomiting
- low blood pressure
- constipation
- swollen cheek glands (like mumps)
- abnormal hormone levels
- stomach problems
- irregular heartbeat