Usually the person who binges frequently will be overweight or be of a normal weight. The consequences to this are high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, heart disease, diabetes mellitus or gallbladder disease. (National Eating Disorders Association, Eating Disorders, http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/webpage_id=294 ) They may also have a shortness in breath, cardiac arrest, osteoarthritis or menstrual irregularities.(Thompson, Binge Eating Disorder, http://www.mirror-mirror.org/binge.htm ) It too, like other eating disorders is usually associated with depression.(National Eating Disorders Association, Eating Disorders) Symptoms to Binge eating disorder are; weight gain, anxiety, hiding food, disgusted with ones self, fluctuations in weight and feeling out of control when eating. These are just a few of the symptoms. (Binge Eating Disorder).
Anorexia Nervosa is probably one of the most commonly known disorders. The term anorexia means a lack of appetite and nervosa means to do with the nerves. This disorder usually affects young, healthy girls from successful families. They are also known to come from the upper-middle class environment and the "perfect home." (Landau, Why are they starving themselves 3) Anorexics usually try for perfection. They have high standards and feel they must prove their worth. Becoming Anorexic can also be a way to feel in control if the person can not control other areas in their lives. Anorexics also can have a low self-esteem and be depressed. (Thompson, Anorexia Nervosa, http://www.mirror-mirror.org/anorexia.htm) .
Bulimia isn't as easy to notice as Anorexia. If a person is bulimic they can still appear perfectly normal; and be of a normal weight or possibly overweight. An estimated 80% of bulimic are women. It is also usually associated with depression, suicidal feelings and changes in one's social behavior. (Encyclopedia Americana, Hudson, Bulimia 756) The usual age for bulimia is 13 to 40 years old.
