Anorexia is not the only eating disorder, however, nor is it the most prevalent. Bulimia nervosa is a scourge that affects up to three times as many girls as anorexia does. Then there is compulsive overeating, which is closely related to bulimia. Let us take a closer look at these ailments.

The Secret Scourge

“A friend of mine recently confessed that she sneaks food and eats it in secret. She then makes herself throw up. She claims she’s been doing it for two years.” With these words, a youth writing to a magazine advice column describes symptoms that are typical of the eating disorder known as bulimia.

The bulimic will binge, or consume a large amount of food in a short period of time. Then she will rid her body of the food that she has eaten, often by means of self-induced vomiting.c Granted, the idea of emptying the stomach in this manner might seem repugnant. Yet, social worker Nancy J. Kolodny writes: “The more you binge and purge, the easier it becomes for you. Your early feelings of revulsion or even fear are quickly replaced by the compulsion to repeat these bulimic patterns.”

Anorexia and bulimia have been called “flip sides of the same coin.” While they have contrasting symptoms, both disorders are fueled by an obsession with food.d Unlike anorexia, however, bulimia is much easier to keep secret. After all, bingeing keeps the sufferer from losing weight, and purging keeps her from gaining it. Hence, the bulimic is likely to be neither obese nor thin, and in public her eating habits may appear quite normal. “For nine years,” says a woman named Lindsey, “I binged and vomited up to four and five times daily. . . . No one knew about my bulimia, because I kept it safely hidden behind a facade of competence, happiness, and average body weight.”

Health Dangers

All three eating disorders can pose serious threats to one’s health. Anorexia can cause severe malnutrition, and in many cases—some estimate up to 15 percent—it can prove fatal. Binge eating, whether followed by purging or not, is hazardous to health. In time, obesity can lead to life-threatening cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. Self-induced vomiting can rupture the esophagus, and abuse of laxatives and diuretics can in extreme circumstances lead to cardiac arrest.

However, there is another aspect of eating disorders that needs to be considered. Those suffering from anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating are generally unhappy. They tend to have little self-respect and are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Clearly, they need help. But how can those who have an eating disorder be helped to break free from their obsession with weight? This question will be addressed in a future article in this series.