The New Face of Bulimia

She could be the person sitting next to you in your biology class. She could be the person sitting on the bike next you in your spinning class. She could very well be your best friend or a relative. Everyone thinks they know what bulimia nervosa is, but do you really know?

We are all familiar with the classic definition of bulimia. Those who suffer from the eating disorder binge--eat large quantity of food in a brief period of time. After binging process they purge, meaning they perform an action to get rid of the food. The purging processes most commonly known are vomiting, using medicines, or taking laxatives.

Exercise bulimia is a subset of the eating disorder bulimia. Those who suffer from this version of the disorder consistently exercise to burn calories ingested and fat reserves. It is often referred to as the non-purging form of bulimia and is considered to be a healthier alternative to the more traditional methods of purging. However, exercising excessively without giving the body adequate time to recuperate can have adverse effects. Consequences that can occur from exercise bulimia include:

• Heart problems
• Dehydration
• Arthritis
• Fatigue
• Low body fat
• Exercise related injuries such as stress fractures and strains
• Osteoporosis
• Amenorrhea (loss of a female’s menstruation)
• Death

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, approximately forty-four percent of undergrad and graduate students in the United States know someone that suffers from exercise bulimia. With the constant obsession in America to stay skinny, it may appear that the person suffering from this disorder is just trying to stay fit, but someone who has exercise bulimia schedule their lives around exercise. Symptoms associated with exercise bulimia are:

• Working out for hours at a time every day
• Exercising when sick or injured
• Working out in inclement weather
• Breaking appointments with family or friends to exercise
• Feeling depressed or upset if unable to exercise
• Feeling a sense of self-worth after exercise
• Being underweight for one’s height
• Not taking vacations for fear there will be no where to work out

Eating disorders are a psychological condition and can be treated. The earlier treatment is started the better the chances are for a successful recovery and the prevention of serious heath conditions. Behavioral and nutritional counseling and prescription drugs such as anti-depressants are the most common methods of treatment. It is important to stress that the road to recovering from and eating disorder is not a short process and can take a while to before full mental and physical health is restored.

There are multiple causes that trigger exercise bulimia and other eating disorders. Stress is one of the leading causes for the disorder in college women. College can be a stressful time for female students as they struggle to maintain their weight, grades, friends, and other commitments. By being cognizant of the symptoms, friends and family can easier detect when a healthy need to stay fit and active becomes an obsession.

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