The Link Between Anorexia And Bulimia
By Thomas Morva

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.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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