Informative Bulimia Essay, Research Paper

Specific purpose: I want my audience to understand what bulimia is.

Organizational pattern: Cause-effect

Introduction

I. Attention statement: Nearly half of Americans personally know someone with an

eating disorder such as bulimia, according to a recent survey of 1,264 adults, in the New

York Times, by Zogby, published Friday July seventh. In addition the poll states that

college graduates are more likely to know someone with an eating disorder (Zogby).

II. Orientation phase point: I am going to tell you what is bulimia, signs/side affects and

treatments.

Adaptation: Bulimia is an eating disorder in which a person eats an abnormally large

amount of food (which is a binge), and then tries to prevent the weight gain by purging.

Some examples of purging are: vomiting (most common), waterpills, laxatives, fasting or

even excessive exercising. According to the 1990 book, titled Eating Habits and

Disorders, written by Rachel Epstein.

Credibility : Bulimia is difficult to detect in someone you know. This is because many of

the bulimic?s remain at normal body weight or even above normal weight. This is due to

their frequent binges on food. Binges can range from one or two times a week to many

times a day.

Enumerated preview: My object today is for you to understand bulimia and to be able for

you to receive information that could maybe help you out some day. First I will tell you

the causes, then the signs/side affects, and treatments.

Transitions: To begin with I would like to tell you that there are many factors that

contribute to bulimia but the exact cause is unknown.

BODY

III. Suffers of bulimia binge and purge for a variety of reasons.

A. Bulimia usually starts in the teen or early adult years and is far more common

in females than in males. The illness may be constant or it may get better and

worse over a period of many years. Usually bingeing alternates with periods of

normal eating and /or fasting. In severe cases there may be periods of bingeing

and fasting with no periods of normal eating. Web page, Fact Sheet: Bulimia

Nervosa, Yahoo.com, 1996

B. The onset of bulimia may be associated with stressful life events, which are not

related to the person?s concern about body image or weight. For example a

domestic argument, illness or death in the family, the stress of examinations,

exchange in job, break down of a relationship, divorce, or even pregnancy may

precipitate the first eating-binge, from Eating Disorders: The Facts, by Suzanne

Abraham and Derek Llwewllyn-Jones, 1992, page 104.

C. Many of the bulimic?s binge only to be able to purge themselves afterward-it is

the purge, in fact, that offers these people the most relief for their emotional

distress (Epstein 66).

Transition: Now you know what some of the causes of bulimia are, I will discuss some of

the behavioral and physiological signs and side affects

A. Behavioral signs and side affects:

Bingeing. Secretive eating, evidenced by missing food. Preoccupation with and

constant talk about food and/or weight. The avoidance of restaurants, planned

meals, or social events if food is present. Self-disarrangement when too much has

been eaten. Bathroom visits after meals. Purging at least twice a week for a

minimum of 3 months. Laxative, enema, diuretics abuse, or fasting. Rigid and

harsh exercise regimes. Notice of feeling out of control.

B. Physiological signs and affects:

Swollen glands, puffiness in the cheeks, or broken blood vessels under the eyes.

Complaints of sore throats. Complaints of fatigue and muscle ache. Unexplained

tooth decay. Frequent weight fluctuations, often within a ten to fifteen pound

range. Dehydration. Electrolyte imbalances. Low sodium and potassium levels.

Liver and Kidney damage. Constipation. Salivary-gland inflammation and

swelling(a ?chimpmunk face?). Severe bowel abnormalities. Distorted skin on

index and middle fingers. Internal bleeding from vomiting. Ulcers of the stomach

and/or esophagus from vomiting . Lacerations of the esophagus. Hearth

palpitations. Heart attack. Death.

Signs and side affects from Bulimia nervosa thrive@health, Complete Guide to

Symptoms, Illness & Surgery, H. Winter Griffith, 1995.

Transition: Now you have learned what bulimia is, the causes and the signs/side affects. I

will explain some treatments for bulimia.

V. Getting help for the bulimic. It is best if bulimia is treated early. If not long

term treatment may be necessary. Family and friends need to always give full support, to

the bulimic.

A. Admission to hospital, just a short stay so that the health professional can

assess the patient?s psychological or medical problems further and devise a

program of treatment which is appropriate. The health professional will be there

to provide on going support. He will provide an environment in which the patient

can learn ?normal? eating habits and can cease to use the potentially dangerous

methods of weight control (Abraham & Llwellyn-Jones,120). The health

professioinal would give one on one treatment or group meetings.

B. Another way to cure bulimia is with medications. The medications are

antidepressant medicines. However in a one-year study, the use of antidepressant

medicines, the success rate was only 18%. Once medication is discontinued the

patient usually has a relapse. Nidus Information Services, Lycos.com,

1996-2000

C. A recovering bulimic should not take vacations or attend large social events.

Because of the unfamiliar environment, it is common for their routine to start up

again. Friends and family should remember to always be supportive.

Conclusion

VI. Summary

Once the behavioral symptoms of bulimia have been stopped or reduced, the goals

are for the sufferer to become independent and more confident with their weight

and eating intake. It is very important for the bulimic to keep in mind that a cure is

possible, even through it may take a lot of time and hard work. Recovery is made

when the bulimic can identify the cause of the behavior and can stop the behavior.

Concluding Device

Now you have a better understanding of bulimia the causes, signs/side affects and

treatment. Therefore if you or someone else has bulimia you now know how to better

understand the disorder. Also may even be able to help someone with bulimia stop their

problem.

The New York Times, by Zogby, published Friday July 7, 2000.

Eating Habits and Disorders, by Rachel Epstein, New York, Philadelphia,

Copyright 1990, pages 109.

Web page, Yahoo.com, Fact Sheet: Bulimia Nervosa, New York Presbyterian

Hospital, Copyright 1996.

Eating Disorders the Facts, by Suzanne Abraham and Derek Llwewllyn-Jones,

United States, Copyright 1992.

Web page, Yahoo.com, Bulimia Nervosa Thrive @ Health, Complete Guide to

Symptoms, Illness and Surgery, By H. Winter Griffith, MD, United States, Copyright

1995.

Web page, Lycos.com., Nidus Information Services, New York, New York,

Copyright 1996-2000.