Why does no one know what bulimia is?!


Question: Why does no one know what bulimia is?
I'm 16. I've been binging & purging since I was 12. I had an argument w/ my friends today in school cuz they were so sure that bulimics are underweight & only purge by throwing up. They thought the word binge meant throw up -.-

The only thing that bulimics have in common is that they binge (eat huge amounts of food at once). They purge by throwing up, laxatives, fasting, or over-exercising. Bulimia makes you GAIN WEIGHT!!

I was getting so worked up!! I don't think I'm ever gonna tell anyone about this if everyone has this mindset!! Why the hell are ppl so ignorant???

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

It isn't a thing many people learn about unless they do it, or if they take classes that talk about the topic.

Honestly, I never really learned fully what bulimia entailed fully until my senior year of high school. I took an AP psychology class and it went into quite great detail. Even throughout college, many people in my different psychology classes only paired bulimia with eating large amounts and throwing up.

It's pretty common that people think bulimia means throwing up. because in media that's all they see when bulimia is brought up.

I completely understand why you are upset though. But look at it as a way to educate people.



A girl who suffers from bulimia is also obsessed with being thin. But unlike an anorexic, she doesn't starve herself to control her weight. Instead she "binges" and then "purges." That means she eats a large amount of food in a short period of time and then tries to get rid of it by forcing herself to vomit,or by using laxatives that cause her to go to the bathroom.

Hope I helped!!

this came from an old book i have called "the care and keeping of you" from american girl.



Unless someone is bullemic or anorectic--or has read about it--it isn't your average topic of conversation.
most teenagers don't know about eating disorders, unless faced with it.
You are destroying your health and really need help. The stomach acid will destroy your teeth, throat, mouth, etc.
Laxatives will destroy your bowels.



Your totally right. Don't get so worked up arguing. People only believe what they see, so maybe your friends needed proof.

It's not that most people are ignorant but, like your friends, some people just aren't aware of the correct definition of certain words, like bulimia, binge, or purge.



its very unhealthy. u can just eat like a normal person. :)
i eat a lot and work out most of the time but i'm not bulimic and neither is almost any other athletic person so i don't see how that is included but okkk.



No bulimics are usually sickly skinny like anorexic people



The only thing I can say is that people are stupid. But you probably knew that already.



Firstly, everything I've ever studied about Bulimia Nervosa, as the disease is formally called, suggests that people (male and female) partake in it because they want to be thinner. There are different motivations for this, usually control issues, peer pressure, body dismorphic disorder, etc.

You are right that vomiting is not the only form of purging. However, both vomiting and using laxatives are horrible for your body. Chances are you have already been told this countless times, but here it is again. Vomiting will literally burn you from the inside out. Your stomach acids contain Hydrochloric Acid (if you've ever been in a Chemistry class, you know that it can eat through just about anything). The only reason that it doesn't eat through your stomach is because it produces a new lining every 3 days to combat the acid (we need the acid to break down food, some people with higher amounts of acid suffer from holes in their stomach lining, aka ulcers). Imagine this stuff coming up through your esophagus and out of your mouth! Your teeth have probably yellowed, and if they haven't they will, and they will be eaten away. Also you should be experiencing bad breath.

Laxatives are fine in moderation (for people who actually need them to get their bowels to move). However, exaggerated use can lead to incontinence (pooping your pants, imagine that in a few years). You will not have control of your bowels if you continue abusing them.

If you really feel that you are overweight, I am begging you to try and lose weight the healthy way (proper diet and exercise). You most likely need to see a psychiatrist (to see if you may have body dismorphic disorder or underlying stressors) and a nutritionist.

What I've written may be disgusting, but it's the truth. Bulimia is ugly. You can find any of the information that I've put above by researching the disorder if you wish. You may even find other reasons not to participate in it.

You are not alone, a very high percentage of men and women feel the pressure to be thin. Someone is waiting to help you! Good Luck!

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health.




The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories