This disorder (from the Greek for ‘ox hunger’) concerning excessive eating, is a related form of anorexia nervosa. Bulimia was known in Roman times, but appears to have been re-invented in the last few years, or perhaps it is just coming out into the open. In 1980 it was listed as a formal psychiatric diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association.
People with this illness go on ‘food binges’ and then purge themselves immediately after eating, through vomiting (often induced with Ipecac) or through the heavy use of laxatives or diuretics. With this disorder, the intestines have a reduced chance of absorbing nutrients from food intake.
Anorexia and bulimia affect approximately 5 per cent of the population, especially young women, with bulimia the more common disorder. Treatment for the problem needs the help of doctors, therapists and nutritionists for counselling.
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