Bulimia

            "I need to be skinnier to fit into that, I think I"ll try a the newest fad diet to hit the market. Most cases of bulimia begin somewhat like that, through the sufferer's attempt at weight loss through dieting. (Cooper, 65) Believe it or not two percent of the female population who are between the ages of 15 and 30 suffer from bulimia nervosa. If that wasn't an eye open, can you believe that of that number 15-20% of those women will loose their life to the preventable eating disorder bulimia nervosa, the silent killer. (http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/special_reports/) Bulimia nervosa is a psychological disease where the sufferer goes through stints of bingeing and purging. Bingeing consists of the excessive eating of comfort foods such as sweets, cookies, chocolate bars and other high calorie foods. When bingeing bulimic sufferers can consume up to 20, 000 calories or more, while the normal intake is between 1500 and 3500 calories. (Cooper, 8) post bingeing sufferers use inappropriate methods of "getting rid" of the food they consumed known as purging. Vomiting, fasting, enemas, excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, or compulsive exercising are some examples. Along with bingeing and purging some simply hide food they are appearing to consume, in napkins or in their purse etc. Any method that can be easily overlooked by others will be attempted, a bulimic will stop at nothing to keep their unruly eating habit a complete secret. (http://www.mamashealth.com/bulimia.asp) .
             Torture, pain, anguish, and harassment are all results of today's teens wanting to look slimmer, more defined and most of all just like him or her. Him or her being the image society sets personifying the ideal human being, or as it seems to bulimic sufferers an unattainable goal. That ideal, which in reality describes a mere 3% of the population is gradually becoming harder to reach with today's media hitting the public where it hurts, their appearance.