Eating Disorders resulting from society imposed Ideal Body Image

Bulimia often starts out as a way of "having your cake and eating it too". A bulimic is involved in the binge/purge cycle, whether it be by way of self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics or in some cases excessive exercise. The bulimic has low self-esteem and relies on others' opinions to validate her self-worth.

Bulimia is not a physical disorder as with anorexia. It is a group of behaviors that become an obsession for the sufferer.

Characteristics of bulimic behavior are recurrent binges (large quantities of food consumed in a very short period of time); sneak eating; self-induced purging; repeatedly attempting to lose weight by way of excessive and strict dieting, vomiting, laxatives, diuretics; frequent fluctuation of weight due to binge/fast cycles; depression and self-hate as a result of obsession; preoccupation with exercise as a means of weight control; intense fear of being or becoming fat.

What differentiates bulimics from others who binge eat is the purge. The bulimic does not allow the food to be assimilated into her system for fear of becoming fat. All of this attention to the rituals of food and eating as with the anorexic, is a way to avoid confronting issues in life the individual feels out of control with. We all tend to nibble a little when we get nervous, however, the bulimic has a good orgy and then purges themself of the food as a purification rite, to cleanse themself of the self-hate and self-loathing that they feel so they can gain control again. Bulimics are afraid to stop purging least they get fat.

The largest handicap for bulimics is their low self-esteem. The constant flow of verbal/mental self-abuse (self-oppression) over their imperfection is typical of bulimic behavior. Constant exposure to the media ideas reinforces in the bulimic's mind her lack of perfection - lack of control over food. She may believe that all men want perfection and thin is perfect, and until she has perfect control over her perfectly thin body, she is unworthy, unfit, and undesirable. It takes time, but the anxiety/depression felt by the bulimic can be dealt with effectively in the therapeutic setting as well as changing the negative behavior and dealing with feelings that have been suppressed.

Compulsive eaters use food as a constant coping mechanism, independent of biological hunger.  They binge, eating alot of food in a short period of time; sometimes eat secretly, are a compulsive weight watcher and dieter, have frequent weight fluctuations, mood swings based on weight, depression and self-hate.

Bulimics have a fear of becoming fat, while compulsive overeaters fear becoming thin (although that may only be known to their subconscious). They make weight loss the number-one problem in their life and the primary arena of attention. "It's alot safer and more comfortable to obsess about weight, fat and food than it is to deal with the real stuff of life." Weight is being used as a shield to protect them from what they fear. Whether the fears are of starvation, sexuality, a new job situation, dating and relationships, career choices, family issues or just life itself, the weight may be serving the purpose of insulating them from those fears, from feeling, and thus avoiding personal growth and change. As soon as they understand these issues underlying their weight problem, women can see that their extra weight is just that - extra weight - not something that disqualifies them from enjoying life. That's when the weight can be lost.