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Major Psychological Disorder> Eating Disorders - Bulimia Nervosa

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Topics

Estimated time: 17 minutes
  • Meaning
  • Onset and Who Gets It
  • Causes
  • Age and Gender Trends (Heatherton et al., 1997)
  • Consequences
  • Treatment
  • Key Points: Bulimia Nervosa

Meaning

  • Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder.
  • The person has repeated (recurrent) episodes of binge eating.
  • In a binge, the person eats large quantities of food, very fast, in an uncontrolled and compulsive way, over a short period of time.
  • After binge eating, the person shows some compensatory behaviour to prevent weight gain, such as Self‑induced vomiting, fasting, Misuse of laxatives, and exercise.
  • These behaviours are potentially harmful to the person’s health.
  • (Baron, 2004)
CISCE: Class 12

Definition: Bulimia Nervosa

  • It is an eating disorder in which individuals engage in recurrent episodes to binge eating followed by some form of purging.
  • Bulimia nervosa is an episodic, uncontrolled, and rapid ingestion or eating of large quantities of food over a short period of time, which is called binge eating, followed by some kind of temporary behaviour to prevent weight gain, like vomiting after eating, fasting, misuse of laxatives, and certain exercises, which are potentially harmful to the person's health. (Baron-2004)
CISCE: Class 12

Onset and Who Gets It

  • Bulimia usually begins in adolescence or early adult life.
  • It is more common in women than in men.
  • Some data show a rate of 4% in women compared to 0.5% in men.
  • Obesity in adolescence is found to be a predisposing cause of this disorder.
  • No familial incidence or genetic factor is noted in the given content.
CISCE: Class 12

Causes

  • There may be a relationship between bulimia and depression, as some bulimics respond to antidepressant medication.
  • According to Baron, the causes of bulimia appear to be similar to those of anorexia nervosa.
  • The thinness concept of beauty may also apply here, including the desire to look beautiful, to be slim, and to be perfect in all respects.
  • Bulimics perceive themselves as overweight, even when they actually are not.
  • Thus, the causes of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are related to some extent.
  • One difference mentioned is that most bulimics are sexually active, whereas anorexics are usually not interested in sex.
CISCE: Class 12

Age and Gender Trends (Heatherton et al., 1997)

Heatherton et al. (1997) found:

  • With an increase in age, the frequency of eating disorders decreases, particularly in women.
  • On the contrary, in men, the eating disorder increases with an increase in age.

However, as men grow older, their frequency of dieting increases.

CISCE: Class 12

Consequences

  • The compensatory behaviours like vomiting, fasting, misuse of laxatives, and excessive exercise are “potentially harmful to the person’s health”.
  • They can harm the person’s physical health (though specific damages are not detailed in the source).
CISCE: Class 12

Treatment

Treatment for bulimia patients is done mainly through psychotherapy.

Helpful methods mentioned:

  • Effective positive reinforcement
  • Informational feedback
  • Contact of bulimic patients with anorexia nervosa patients – this is considered a useful programme.

These programmes aim to:

  • Sensitize the thoughts and feelings of bulimic patients
  • Especially just before eating, to help them become aware of what they are feeling and doing.
CISCE: Class 12

Key Points: Bulimia Nervosa

  • An eating disorder with episodes of binge eating followed by harmful actions like vomiting or over-exercising to avoid weight gain.
  • Common in teenage girls and young women.
  • Linked to body image issues, depression, and the desire to be slim.
  • These behaviours harm health.
  • Treated through psychotherapy and support programs.

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