rder, an illness characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors, can also accompany anorexia. Individuals with anorexia are typically compliant in personality but may have sudden outbursts of hostility and anger or become socially withdrawn.Bulimia nervosa is the other most common eating disorder. This disorder is also most common in women. It is defined as an illness involving uncontrolled episodes of overeating, or binging, usually followed by self-induced vomiting, or purging. These episodes may occur several times a day. The affected person usually realizes that something is wrong, and may feel guilty about the binge/purge episodes. Like anorexia, there are two types of bulimia. The first is the purging type. Individuals affected by this type regularly engage in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. The nonpurging type is evident when the person uses inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as not eating or excessive exercise, but does not purge regularly. Also like anorexia, death can result from a severe case of bulimia, though there are many other symptoms. A person with bulimia may suffer from dental enamel erosion, swollen cheeks, irregular menstrual periods, and even heart failure. Some individuals with bulimia struggle with addictions, including drug abuse and compulsive stealing. Like those with anorexia, many people with bulimia suffer from clinical depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. All of these problems together put the bulimic at a greater risk of suicide. Currently, there are one million men and seven million women affected with an eating disorder. Since 86 percent of victims report their illness by age twenty, educations programs should definitely focus on these ages to prevent the diseases. Perhaps someday, there will be better prevention and treatment programs, so that there will be one less disease that takes people’s lives. ...
