Why Bulimia is Harder to Diagnose than Anorexia!!Dr. David Herzog, Boston-based founder of the Harvard Eating Disorders Center and the Harris Center for Education and Advocacy in Eating Disorders, holds that bulimia nervosa is exceedingly more difficult to properly diagnose than anorexia. This is due to several factors, all of which he details in a post for the website, along with methods of treatment.!!What is Bulimia!!Bulimia is the process of binge eating large amounts of food, only to purge the body of it later through inducing vomit or the use of laxatives. The underlying cause for bulimia is very similar to that of anorexia—often a coupling of biological and social factors, involving genetic predisposition and pressure from popular culture and peers. In regards to pressure from popular culture, in a study conducted amongst teenage girls in a rural province of Fiji on the cusp of acquiring television, bulimia went from being non-existent to affecting more than ten percent of the female adolescent population.!!Men and Women of All Ages!!Teenagers are not the only group susceptible to starting the course of binge eating and purging. Individuals can start the process really at any time in life, although research has shown that the disorder is most common in adolescents or those who are just post-adolescence. Women are most common, but ten percent of those who suffer from bulimia are men. Traumatic events can set off the disorder, such as physical abuse or being bullied at school. There is also some research that indicates an imbalance in serotonin—a crucial neurotransmitter—could be behind the start of the disorder.!!Bulimia vs. Anorexia!!As opposed to patients who suffer from anorexia, who are often notably below the average body weight, those who struggle with bulimia tend to be of average weight or even slightly above. Doctors must then look to other signs and symptoms to complete diagnosis. Evidence of scarred fingers or hands and decaying teeth can be signs of forcing oneself to vomit. Internal complications can show symptoms as well—unexplained pain in the stomach or the throat can be a physical manifestation of the disruption to the processes of digestion. Noting behavior is also important; friends and family must remain wary of an individual who carries around pockets of supplies for binge eating and unnecessary enema kits or laxatives.!!!!

Dangers of Bulimia!!Discovering the behavior speedily is incredibly crucial. Bulimia can bring on long-term problems, including injuries to the digestive tract and damage to the stomach or esophagus; overuse of laxatives can also result in an electrolyte imbalance.!!!!

Dr. David Herzog, Harvard Eating Disorder Specialist!