Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, or "purging". Types of purging include self-induced vomiting, fasting, overexercising, or the abuse of laxatives, enemas, or diuretics. This disorder occurs among some who suffer from anorexia.^[1] However, most people with bulimia are women.^[2]

Because suffers from bulimia tend to be an average weight, this disorder tends be more difficult to diagnose than other eating disorders.

Criteria for bulimia nervosa[edit]

Fewer people meet the clinical criteria of bulimia nervosa as described by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), released in 2013. The criteria includes both objective and psychological characteristics that indicate the disorder.^[2]

• Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterised by both of the following:^[3]
  • Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g. within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.^[3]
  • A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g. a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating).^[3]
• Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviour in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.^[3]
• The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviours both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months.^[3]
• Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.^[3]
• The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of anorexia nervosa.^[3]

See also[edit]

• Anorexia nervosa
• Binge-eating disorder

References[edit]

1. ↑ http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=286&Profile_ID=41141
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Grison, Sarah, and Michael S. Gazzaniga. Psychology in Your Life. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2017.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} American Psychiatric Association (2013).