Eating disorders are often misunderstood by the public. To the public, only females can have an eating disorder, and that is not accurate. According to the National Organization of Anorexia Nervosa And Associated Disorders (ANAD), 10-15% of people who have an eating disorder are men. Men are also more likely to die from an eating disorder than women. A common eating disorder among men and women is Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa, commonly known as Bulimia is when a person eats a large quantity of food, and then does something to get that food out of their system, including forcing themselves to throw up, taking an enormous amount of laxatives, or excessive exercise (Bulimia Nervosa). While there are many …show more content…
It can put stress on their bodies, and lead to many health consequences. Pain and discomfort also come into play here. Countless people will eat until the point of discomfort, and then force themselves to get it out of their systems to avoid gaining weight (Overview). The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) states that a person who participates in bulimic actions can become dehydrated from the constant purging and vomiting. Frequent vomiting can lead to a ruptured esophagus and decaying teeth. Shockingly, those are just the minor consequences. Some major consequences include irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and digestive problems (Overview). Bulimia is an extremely dangerous disorder. Although many people refuse to believe that bulimia is lethal, 3.9% of people die every year because of it (Bulimia …show more content…
The treatment usually consists of counseling and/or antidepressants (Treatment). It is quite possible that if a person has bulimia, they also have another condition, such as depression or substance abuse. If that is not the case, the diagnosed individual is usually given medicines, such as Prozac, to reduce binge-eating cycles. Counseling is also highly recommended. There are two types of counseling: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT). CBT teaches a person how to change their negative thoughts into positive ones. On the other hand, IPT helps a person learn about their feelings and relationships that trigger binging and purging (Treatment). Just like any other medical condition, to get rid of Bulimia, the suffering individual needs to be surrounded by supportive family and friends who are willing to help them through this rough time in their life. Even with that, there is still a possibility of a relapse. The treatment works, but only if the person receiving it is willing to get better (Bulimia