What is Bulimia Nervosa? Basic Information About Bulimia - Information On Bulimia Repercussions

Written by Natasha Tracy

Bulimia Repercussions

Physically, the most severe repercussion of bulimia is death, which is relatively uncommon in bulimics and is typically due to suicide and depression. Bulimics can hide the physical impact, often for years, but eventually bulimia can negatively affect the brain, lungs, heart, stomach, musculature and kidneys. (read: dangers of bulimia.)

People with bulimia are typically preoccupied with their body, body image and diet and as bulimia further develops these preoccupations become obsessions. Little conversation or even thought revolves around anything other than weight and eating habits. Bulimics feel the need not only to control their food intake but also almost every other aspect of their lives.

Bulimia and the Media

Bulimia is often fueled by dissatisfaction with one's appearance and this can stem from the images seen throughout Western culture. An obsession with thinness leads to dieting, which often leads to eating disorders such as bulimia. Susie Orbach, PhD, and body image expert remarks:

"...our visual culture is something new that is having an impact on women. Each week, we see thousands of images in the media, in advertising, and in entertainment, of digitally transformed and "beautified" bodies. These images enter our minds and reshape our own relationships to the body and our ideas of what beauty is. The focus on thinness... we are told that not having a specific body shape is bad.⁵"

Dr. Orbach also cautions that as more visual media are focused on men, they too are becoming obsessed with body image. This can lead to behaviors associated with the bulimia definition, including: overexercising and an exaggerated participation in sports.

article references

next: Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia Signs Everyone Should Know
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