Tag Archives: anorexia

Bulimia: Diagnostic Criteria and Treatment

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Bulimia is one of the most common psychological disorders affecting young females. The primary characteristic of the condition is the consumption of large amounts of food, usually junk food rather than healthy fruit and vegetables. Just as important as the amount of food eaten, is the experience of being out of control, i.e. the person cannot control the binging incident at the time. In addition, there is an attempt to compensate for the bingeing behavior in the form of purging, where the food consumed is expelled by a variety of means. The DSM-IV outlines the following criteria for the diagnosis … Continue reading →

What is Bulimia?

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The late Princess Diana had the unenviable reputation of being the world’s most famous bulimic. Back in the 1990s when the rumors of her eating disorder were finally acknowledged by her in one of her many authorized biographies, she became the flagship for sufferers the world over. Bulimia is a disorder that strikes people from all walks of life, as the tragic story of Princess Diana clearly indicates. It affects one in six teenage girls and a slightly lesser percentage of women in their twenties. However as noted in a previous article (see The Desperate Housewives’ Syndrome), the condition is … Continue reading →

A Losing Proposition

Too often when we get sick of trying to lose weight, we may resort to an extreme to get those pounds off. The problem is we’re force-fed a diet of quick and easy diet tips. These oft-misused pronouns leave us frustrated and overwhelmed. When this happens, we are prone to the following choices. These choices are uncomfortable, they are demanding and they are very, very tough. They work, but they are far from healthy or ideal choices to make. Starving Yourself In our young, we call this anorexia. It’s an eating disorder. While we need to employ healthier eating habits … Continue reading →

What is Anorexia?

Rachel was 17 years old when she was first taken to her local doctor by her worried Mom for help. She looked older than her years— her lifeless eyes were shadowed, and her cheeks sunken. Her skin was pasty and stretched tightly across her cheekbones giving her a skeletal look. Her collarbones protruded sharply through her loose-fitting shirt. Despite her current appearance, Rachel still retained the traces of the beautiful young woman she had once been. Two years earlier Rachel had been “chunky”, as her best friend, Chloe, had one day innocently commented. It didn’t help Rachel that Chloe was … Continue reading →

Anorexia – Symptoms and Treatment

Anorexia affects two out of every 100 teenage girls, although the disorder does occur less frequently in other age groups and occasionally in males. Signs and symptoms of anorexia include dry skin, brittle hair and nails, and an intolerance of cold temperatures. The appearance of lanugo, or downy hair on the face and body is common. Chronic low blood pressure and a slowed heart rate are also typical. Cardiac, kidney, and electrolyte imbalances are common and are often the cause of death. Of course, by far the most obvious sign of anorexia is weight loss. To be medically classified with … Continue reading →