Bulimia

?
Introduction

Background

Bulimia nervosa?(BN) is an eating disorder characterized by eating binges typically followed by efforts to purge calories through self-induced vomiting, laxative and/or diuretic abuse, prolonged fasting, or excessive exercise. Fear of weight gain leads to the characteristic purging behavior, but bulimia nervosa is centered around the practice of binge eating. Most patients with bulimia are of normal weight or are overweight. Although some patients with anorexia nervosa also manifest purging behavior, anorexia is characterized by the practice of starvation due to intense fear of becoming fat, even though the person is significantly underweight.

The?Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV),?describes diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa and includes the following1?:
?

Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by the following:?

Eating an amount of food, in a discrete period of time, that is larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time under similar circumstances
A perceived lack of control over eating during the episode of binge eating


Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior used to prevent weight gain
Occurrence of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months
Self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Does not occur exclusively during episodes of?anorexia nervosa

Bulimia nervosa may be categorized as the purging type if, during the current episode, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or in the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. Bulimia nervosa may be categorized as the nonpurging type if other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, have been used without self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

Individuals who binge eat without regularly engaging in the characteristic inappropriate compensatory behaviors of bulimia nervosa are currently?included in the category of eating disorders not otherwise specified (NOS) in theDSM-IV. Some researchers believe binge eating disorder (BED) is a milder form, or subset of bulimia nervosa, while others argue that it is its own distinct disorder. In contrast with bulimia nervosa, patients are typically overweight or obese and do not engage in compensatory behaviors.BulimiaOriginally from: http://www.nursinglink.monster.com/news/articles/15233-bulimia

View this post on my blog: http://travelnursesuccess.com/bulimia