Anorexia is easier to notice because the person is so thin and looking malnourished. What are the signs of an equally dangerous disorder -- bulimia?
Eating Disorders are serious and emotional illnesses that often go unnoticed by teachers and parents. While these disorders may seem to be about food, they are not. They are highly dangerous behaviors and life-threatening.
Anorexia
This is probably the best known eating disorder getting much publicity in the press and movies. Anorexia often causes death and is nothing to ignore. However, there is another equally danger eating disorder that gets less attention.
Bulimia
Someone with bulimia consumes exceptionally large amounts of food in a short amount of time. The volume of food could easily be thousands of calories in minutes. Bulimia differs from binge eaters by getting rid of the food quickly. Bulimics do some or all of the following:
- starve themselves between binges
- use laxatives daily
- exercise excessively--hours per day
- vomiting after eating
- use diuretics regularly
The Signs
- bulimics tend to be on the depressed side--not very happy, in general
- quickly leave for the bathroom after meals at school and at home
- often leave the sink water running to muffle the vomiting sound
- may be on a strict diet and then go "nuts" eating at a party
- rarely tell friends or family that they are vomiting
- tend to binge when stressed
- obsessed about their weight
- judging themselves by how they look and how much they weigh
Where Do They Cross the Line?
While teenagers may do some of the above at the spur of the moment, when do these behaviors become an illness?
Rule of Thumb: If the above behaviors occur twice a week for over three months, the person probably has an eating disorder and it is time to get treatment.--without delay.
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Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
