This disease typically affects adolescent girls; the average age on onset is thirteen years old (Kagan, Anorexia 45). Girls who suffer from anorexia tend to be high achievers or perfectionists, but suffer from a low self-esteem (Worsnop 1). .
According to the EDAP anorexia has five primary symptoms. The first is the refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age, and activity level. The second is the intense fear of weight gain or being "fat." The third is the feeling "fat" or overweight despite the dramatic weight loss. Fourth is the loss of menstrual periods in girls and women post-puberty. And last is the extreme concern with body weight and shape (Ogilvy). .
Bulimia Nervosa is defined as a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging. This is where a person will eat large amounts of food in short periods of time, and then get rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or over-exercising (Ogilvy). Bulimia is most often diagnosed in high school or college students who are extroverted, impulsive, and sexually active (Worsnop 2). The binge-purge episodes are almost always kept secret, and occur at least two times a week (Kagan, Bulimia 123). .
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Moegling 3.
The EDAP states that bulimia has four major symptoms. The first is repeated episodes of bingeing and purging. Second is feeling out of control during a binge, and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness. The third is frequent dieting, and last is the extreme concern with body weight and shape (Ogilvy).
Eating disorders are not a twentieth-century disease; they have existed for many centuries, but were slow to be recognized and understood. Richard Morton first identified anorexia in 1689. Bulimia is fairly new; it was not diagnosed until 1903, by French neurologist Pierre M. F. Janet (Worsnop 8). Although doctors new that eating disorders existed, the number of people treated was extremely low, so they did not know all that much about them.
