Fresh news delivered to you every day. Visit our Circulation department for print subscription information. Most people have a general idea about what eating disorders are. Today's column is authored by Dr. Joyce O'Rear and Dr. Ron Owens, clinical psychologists with the Texas Tech School of Medicine.
Most people have a general idea about what eating disorders are.
Just how devastating these conditions can be, however, is not generally recognized. Eating disorders can have lifelong negative effects on health and in extreme cases can be fatal. Eating disorders are more common in young females, but can be both genders and all ages. The symptoms of bulimia nervosa include repeated episodes of bingeing and purging, feeling out of control during a binge, eating past the point of comfortable fullness, and purging by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives or other means. Compulsive overeating is characterized by uncontrolled, impulsive or continuous eating.