Bulimia nervosa, which is commonly just referred to as bulimia, is a medical condition when someone is typically pertinent and binging on food. The binging of food happens when it is consumed in large quantities in a very short amount of time. During this binging process, people feel like they have no control over their meeting whatsoever. The purging process is the release of that food because of vomiting that is self-induced. Other forms of purging may include the use of laxatives also exercising in order to burn what are perceived to be excess calories.
Facts and Statistics About Bulimia Nervosa
1. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 1.1% to 4.2% of females have bulimia at some point in their lives.
2. Genetics are also a major factor of bulimia, as are cultural ideals about body image.
3. Bulimia often starts with a diet, which may be meant to help the person regain self-esteem and control.
4. Bulimia nervosa affects 0.6 percent of American adults during their lifetime.
5. The average age when bulimia begins is 20.
6. Bulimia is most common in people between the ages of 18 and 59.
7. Unlike anorexia, bulimia nervosa does not necessarily lead to weight loss. Many who suffer from this eating disorder have an average weight or maybe overweight.
8. Substance abuse is less common in women with anorexia than in women who suffer from bulimia nervosa.
9. Recent research shows that women who have bulimia nervosa are more likely to abuse drugs like alcohol, marijuana, and tranquilizers.
10. The key to any bulimia nervosa treatment program must include impulse control because sufferers of this eating disorder may consume thousands of calories in one sitting.
11. The treatment rate for Americans to have an eating disorder is about 10%.
12. The recommended amount of care that someone receives while receiving professional treatment for eating disorder is 3 to 6 months of direct supervision.
13. It is estimated that eight out of 10 women who have received treatment for an eating disorder are act discharge from the treatment facility or care program too soon.
14. Health providers do not always provide coverage for treatment of bulimia nervosa.
15. Family-based treatment for bulimia nervosa may start binging and purging incidents twice off as individual therapy alone.
16. A person with bulimia might eat more than 2,000 calories in one sitting and then induce vomiting.
17. 2.8% of the population experiences a binge eating disorder without purging.
18. It is estimated that 10% of those who suffer from bulimia nervosa are men.
19. 8 to 12-year-olds and ethnic minorities are the fastest-growing population at risk for bulimia nervosa.
20. People in all social and economic and wealth levels have eating disorders.
21. Between 50-80% of a person’s risk for developing an eating disorder is due to genetic factors.
22. The mortality rate for bulimia nervosa is 3.9%.
23. Without treatment, it’s suspected that as many as 20% individuals will die as a result of their illness.
24. Even for sufferers whose eating disorders don’t prove to be fatal in the end, there are often severe medical complications associated with starvation and purging. These may include bone disease, heart complications, digestive tract distress, and even infertility.
25. The estimated number of Americans who are suffering from bulimia right now: 1.5 million.
26. About 13% of high school girls during their four years attending classes.
27. Bulimia nervosa has been found to occur in children who are as young as six years old.
28. The weight of the average American fashion model: 110 pounds.
29. The average weight of an American woman: 142 pounds.
30. Because team girls often try to emulate the often Photoshopped appearance of fashion models, a natural outcome is an eating disorder.
31. Up to 15% of all adult women have at least one symptom of bulimia nervosa.
32. 84% of all bulimics have had some college education.
33. The percentage of all bulimics who have a near normal body weight: 64%.
34. Seven out of 10 bulimics also suffer from moderate or severe depression during their eating disorder.
35. The average person with bulimia nervosa will been at least 11 times per week on average. New men who participate in the sport of wrestling are up to 10 times more likely to develop this eating disorder than men who do not participate in a wrestling or fighting sport.
36. Men with same-sex attractions are more likely to develop bulimia nervosa then men who have opposite sex attractions.
37. Women who frequently change their diets are up to 18 times more likely to become bulimic than those who do not.
38. For children who have mothers that are on a diet frequently, they are more likely to develop an eating disorder like bulimia nervosa.
39. 50% of people who suffer from anorexia will also develop tendencies that mimic bulimia nervosa.
40. In any given year, one out of four people continue to meet the diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa even though they have received an official diagnosis of mission from their treatment facility.
41. As many as 80% of bulimics who received treatment can achieve remission within three months.
42. 4% of women who are in college or of college age are bulimic.
43. Bulimia nervosa has been found in individuals as as 76.
44. 31% of American teenage girls are at least somewhat concerned about their weight.
45. Over 70% of women who abuse alcohol and are younger than 30 also have at least one eating disorder.
Understanding Bulimia Nervosa
What sets bulimia nervosa apart from the typical diet is that there is no attempt to actually lose weight. It is used primarily as a method of being able to show self-control or to punish oneself for binging on food in the first place. Bulimia is primarily an eating disorder that affects women, especially adolescent girls and young adults, but the number of men who develop eating disorders like bulimia nervosa is increasing.
Although the human body needs food to survive, when food is the subject of frequent binging and purging, there can be severe medical consequences that occur. One of the most common issues for long-term bulimia nervosa the first is the degradation of their teeth. The pastor in the vomit that come up when self-induced eat away at the enamel of the teeth and this can eventually lead to decay, cavities, and the loss of the tooth itself.
When vomiting is a regular occurrence, those who suffer from this eating disorder have the potential for other medical emergencies as well. They may have an electrolyte imbalance. The imbalance may then cause irregular heartbeats, and this raises the risks of having heart failure or even a fatal incident. Artificially stimulating urination or bowel movements can also increase the risks of experiencing heart failure.
As the statistics and facts of bulimia nervosa show, early treatment of this eating disorder is the key to successfully conquering it. Anyone can be affected by bulimia. No other fact is more important to know.
Common Perceptions
A common perception with bulimia is that people who suffer from this eating disorder are making a lifestyle choice. The problem is that someone cannot choose stop having an eating disorder
An eating disorder is a serious mental illness. It often entails physical consequences that create a large amount of suffering. Someone with bulimia nervosa can make the choice to find recovery options, but the recovery itself entails a lot of hard work and often involves more than just the choosing not to act when symptoms are felt. Only appropriate support and treatment that includes regular medical monitoring and additional habilitation will help someone suffering from bulimia nervosa find healing.
Sometimes purging is thought of as an effective way to lose weight. The problem is that purging does not actually result in ingested food leaving the body completely. About 50% of what is eat during a binge. Will remain in the body even after vomiting has been self-induced. Laxatives do not prevent the body from absorbing the thousands of calories that someone suffering from bulimia nervosa may consume either because they impact the large intestine and most calories are absorbed by the human body in the small intestine. Vomiting and laxatives give the impression of weight loss because they stimulate a loss of fluids from the body, but the end result is dehydration and the desire of the body to store more liquid.
The good news is that recovery, even though it may be challenging, is absolutely possible in every case of bulimia nervosa. It is important to remember that the recovery from this eating disorder may take several months or even years, but with ongoing treatment, most people who have this eating disorder will eventually recover and then go on to live a life that is free from eating disorders in the future. By purging or seeking treatment early, bulimia nervosa can be defeated.