Eating Beyond The Limit

Article by: Adam H.

Bulimia Nervosa is a well-known and serious eating disorder that causes people to eat a large amount of food in a small period of time. Adolescents and young adults are most vulnerable to eating disorders like Bulimia. Bulimia Nervosa is more common in females than in males.

Many people with Bulimia will binge-eat until they are painfully full. They feel they cannot control how much they eat. People affected by Bulimia will often binge foods that they would normally avoid. They then attempt to purge in order to compensate for the amount of food consumed. This can include vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise.

The exact cause of Bulimia is unknown, but people think it may be related to emotional health, societal expectations, or genetics. People with Bulimia might also have self esteem or social problems. People with Bulimia may constantly worry about being fat, or have an extremely negative view about their body. People affected by Bulimia may also not want to eat in public or in front of others, and might exercise or fast excessively after binging.

Bulimia has a mortality (death) rate of 3.9%. Death related to Bulimia can be caused by chemicals being depleted due to purging. Death caused by Bulimia can also be caused by choking, rupture of the stomach, or suicide.

Bulimia Nervosa is a life-threatening disorder that should be taken very seriously. Even though there may not be any JLS students suffering from Bulimia, students at JLS can still be supportive of others in the community that have Bulimia Nervosa. Students can support people with Bulimia by not making fun of them, comforting them in hard times, and generally being nice and understanding.