Bulimia: a report of 34 cases.

TLDR

Bulimia predominantly affects young females, with eating problems typically beginning in early adulthood. The study reports a series of 34 bulimic patients. Patients exhibited daily binge‑eating episodes followed by vomiting, preoccupation with food, fear of obesity, clinical depression, and a link to impulse‑control issues such as stealing and substance abuse.

Abstract

A series of 34 patients with Bulimia is presented. The patients were young females who usually experienced the onset of eating problems by early adulthood. Most had binge eating episodes on a daily basis, frequently followed by vomiting. Although the majority had never had active anorexia nervosa, all of these patients demonstrated characteristics often described in anorectic patients including a preoccupation with food and an exaggerated fear of becoming obese. Many appeared to be clinically depressed. The association between stealing behavior, chemical abuse and bulimia suggests problems with impulse control in this population.