| Self-starvation,
eating until the point of malaise and forcing regurgitation are
the signs of anorexia and bulimia. Just medical science has found
bulimia to be a genetic disorder medical experts speculate that
anorexia may have some of the same genetic components.
Nevertheless
a recent study released in the Journal of General Psychiatry
determined anorexia was more than 50 percent determined by genetics
and the socio-environment accounting for the other half. The
genetic link has stirred significant controversy amongst medical
researchers.
Certain
skeptics have questioned the need for bulimia to be treated
as another psychiatric disorder. The doubters contend that the
temporary act of eating may be normal response to the availability
of food abundance. On the contrary, others argue that the bulimic
diagnosis is an authentic mental disorder. Binge eating can
swing the spectrum of dieting to eating in excesses.
Similar
to anorexia, the highs and lows of binge eating make the sufferer
feel low self esteem. The regurgitation puts the bulimic back
in control. Sufferers of anorexia and bulimia require learning
new eating habits to heal. Many medical specialists teach their
patients to approach food consumption based on the body's natural
cues of hunger and satiation.
The symptoms
of bulimia include the following:
• Food
consumption without hunger
• Shameful
closet-like eating behavior (alone)
• Feelings
of shame, guilt, disgust
• A depressed
state after eating
If any
of these eating habits transpire more than twice a week for
a minimum of six months, seek professional attention. For more
information on anorexia and bulimia the National Eating Disorder
organization has a wealth of information, resources, support,
treatments centers data, therapists and more. |
