Bulimia Nervosa in Young Adults

By: Alyssa Fisher

N01383100
 What is Bulimia Nervosa

• Bulimia Nervosa is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder

• Characterized by: • Symptoms and Signs:

Secretly binging (losing control when eating large amounts of food)
Being constantly worried about body image and
Purging (to rid the previous calories)
weight

Fear of weight gain

• Purging Includes:
Self induced vomiting Multiple episodes of loosing control and eating
Using laxatives abnormally large amounts in one sitting

Fasting Any form of purging to rid calories

Excessive exercise
Causes and Risk Factors of Bulimia Nervosa

• Cause:
An exact cause is currently unknown but many factors such as social pressure, genetics, biology, and an
accumulation of other factors may play some roles

• Risk Factors:
-Biology
If a family member suffers from this disorder, another member may develop it as well
Being overweight

-Emotional and Psychological Issues

Disorders such as depression and anxiety can be a precursor

-Dieting
Can cause binge eating and purging from trying to restrict calorie intake
Bulimia Nervosa Statistics

• Lifetime prevalence rates in Americans ages 18 and

older: 1% of American adults

• ~2% of adolescents and young adults have bulimia

• Most common age to develop this disorder is between

12-25 years old

• A study focusing on college aged women found that

~19% struggle with bulimia

• 5x more likely in women than men but men’s

percentages continue to rise

• About half of those struggling with bulimia will

develop an anxiety disorder
 Bulimia Nervosa in Young Adults

• Young adults between the ages of 12 to 25 are the most in danger

of developing this disorder.
• I believe if to reach out and educate younger kids throughout their
years in Middle School (first to last year) about what eating
disorders are and how to properly assess, deal, and combat them,
it will cause bulimia nervosa and any other types of eating
disorders to hopefully and eventually decrease over time.

*Side Note:
Most kids start
Middle School at
the age of 11
Early Intervention Importance About Bulimia Nervosa

Founded To Help:
• Developmental path of a child’s to be changed
• Improve outcomes for not just kids but families and even the
community as well
• Provides insight and warning signs to get help for people who may
be suffering
• Allow people to be knowledgeable and understand what this
disorder is
• Rid ignorance and mythical stories or facts abut this disorder
What Should Be Done

• Mandatory programs in school’s about health

• Mandatory classes in school’s about health
• Accessible literature in libraries about eating disorders
• Pamphlets
• Guess speakers
• Well trained guidance counselors
 What Should Be Done Examples

• Pamphlets: Literature: Programs/Classes/Guest Speakers:

How Will Mental Health/Community Improve

Increased investments and efforts advocating for bulimia nervosa will

improve from:

1. Ridding the stigmatization of bulimia and other eating disorders

(“eating disorders are a lifestyle choice and ridding negative behavior will automatically cure you”)
(“It is a women's issue”)

2. Allowing conversation will rid the taboo nature of eating disorders

3. As more people become knowledgeable and understanding of what eating disorders are the more
people will want to help and raise awareness

4. More advocacy will lead to more research efforts and evidence-based treatments
How Will Mental Health Improve for the Sufferer

• They will have found a way to combat this disorder through a

platitude of ways (ex. Therapy, Friends, Family)
• Not suffer any more physical injuries such as tooth decay, gum
disease, digestive problems, absent or irregular periods in females
• Not suffer mentally as much since there is a link with anxiety and
depression to eating disorders
• Decrease the use of alcohol and drugs since there are links to
misuse of drugs to eating disorders
• Have a healthier mind set of themselves and their bodies
 Mental Health Resources (for Bulimia Nervosa)
• National Eating Disorders
Association Helpline:
Helpline phone hours are Monday-Thursday
from 11AM-9PM and Friday from 11AM-5PM
Helpline chat hours are Monday-Thursday
from 9AM-9PM and Friday 9AM-5PM
Phone Number: (800) 931-2237
Website:
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/he
lp-support/contact-helpline
• Support Groups (2 of many) • Clinical Services
1. ANAD Eating Disorder Support Group of Brevard County 1. The Renfrew Center for Eating
Contact Name: Lori Licker Disorders
Address: 3452 Lake Lynda Dr building
Suntree Area, Melbourne, FL 32935
100 suite 120, Orlando, FL 32817
Phone: 321-259-6842 Phone: (800) 736-3739
Email: brevardanad@aol.com
www.hometown.aol.com 2. The Body Image Counseling Center
Meeting Time: Contact for details Address: 1545 Landon Ave,
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Phone: (904) 737-3232
2. Milestones
Contact Name: Marty Lerner 3. Alliance For Eating Disorder
2525 Embassy Lakes Drive, Suite 10 Address: 1649 Forum Pl #2, West Palm
Cooper City, FL 33026 Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 954-272-0806 Phone: (561) 841-0900
Email: mlerner@milestonesprogram.org
Website: www.milestonesprogram.org
Meeting Time: Contact for details
Good and Missing Resources

• Good Resources:
Any resources whether a hotline, book, clinic, websites, self-help
groups, family, friends are all beneficial resources. Not one is better
than the other and if the resource used helps and allows recovery
for the sufferer, then it’s considered a good resource.

Missing Resources:
Family or friends that may not take this disorder seriously or the
person who’s suffering from it and them not doing anything or any
research to try and bring the sufferer to a healthier and safer state
of mind and health.
Resources Examples
Conclusion

• Any eating disorder is not something to make light of and if to get

many individuals to take the time to learn about this disorder and
what can be done to help those who have it, it will help to
eliminate the amount of people developing it.
• It’s also important that those suffering from this disorder take
responsibility of what they’re putting themselves through and try
to find a way to help themselves
Work Cited

• Bulimia nervosa. (2018, May 10). Retrieved from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
• Eating Disorders Statistics. (2020, April 8). Retrieved April 17, 2020, from
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/related/eating-disorder-stati
stics/#gref
• Lampert, J., & Westin, K. (2014, May 8). Advocacy . Retrieved April 19, 2019, from
https://www.aedweb.org/get-involved/advocacy
• Mennitto, D. (2018, December 3). Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Disorders - Johns
Hopkins Hospital. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/psychiatry/specialty_areas/eating_disorders/faq.html
• Morgan, C. (2014, August 21). Stigmas surrounding eating disorders - A devastating reality.
Retrieved April 18, 2020, from
https://mhaustralia.org/general/stigmas-surrounding-eating-disorders-devastating-reality
• Why Act Early if You're Concerned about Development? (2019, December 9). Retrieved April 19,
2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/whyActEarly.html