Bulimia: A Threat to Society

In a society that discriminates against people, particularly women, who do not look slender, many people find they cannot - or think they cannot - meet society's standards through normal, healthy eating habits and often fall victim to eating disorders. Bulimia Nervosa, an example of an eating disorder that is characterized by a cycle of binge eating and purging, has become very common in our society. Although it generally affects women, men too are now coming to clinics with this kind of disease. This is not a new disorder. It can be brought on by a complex interplay of factors, which may include emotional, and personality disorders, family pressures, a possible genetic or biologic susceptibility, and a culture in which there is an overabundance of food and an obsession with thinness. Common signs of this problem are pre-occupation with the body, a need for control and perfection, difficult interpersonal relationships, and a low self-esteem. It seems that irrespective of the initial triggers, bulimia can become a rigid pattern, which is difficult to change. The purpose of this paper is to reason out why bulimia is detrimental to our society. It focuses on its bad effect to the health of an individual and to the society. Perhaps you do not have this kind of eating disorder but you are definitely affected by it.

Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a secretive cycle of bingeing and purging. Binge eating is the uncontrolled consumption of large amounts of food lasting a few minutes to several hours. Purging or ridding the body of food eaten during a binge through self-induced vomiting, laxatives, fasting, severe diets, or vigorous exercise follows this. The cause of bulimia is really unknown. It may develop due to a combination of emotional, physical, and social triggers. The precise reasons for developing it are probably different for each person. Bulimia is more common in western societies, and some people link them to media images of thinness. Being thin is often linked to being successful. Bulimia may occur in several family members. People who have a mother or sister with an eating disorder are more likely to develop one, although it is not clear whether this is due to genetic factors or the learning of certain behaviors. Bulimia nervosa can be extremely harmful to the body. The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles can impact the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. Over time, it can lead to death. This is the major disadvantage of bulimia--the health risk of every individual. However, some people do not know this disadvantage. They thought that bulimia is good and effective that's why they will influence others. And because our world today is concerned about weight, non-bulimics are easily influenced just to meet the standards of the society. They will also try this kind of diet to be slim. The society will face a great disorder because of the bad effects of bulimia. Bulimia can have a bad impact on business. A healthy society is a wealthy nation. But because bulimia can destroy one's health, people will have a difficulty in their jobs. Unhealthy persons cannot work productively and sufficiently. If this happens, it will result to the downfall of the business, which later on affects the economy of the country. This may be in a long-term effect but in due time this can happen. Lastly, the major affected is the family of the bulimic person. The emotional and financial problem they are undertaking makes it hard for them to go on with life. It is difficult for them to see a family member suffering from the bad effects of bulimia. In addition, bulimia is not just a physical problem but a psychological dilemma too. Treatment can be a combination of medical and psychological approaches. Treating a bulimic person can take