Bulimia And I

How the rise in bulimia in teenagers is a result of poor self-body image and the internet

Trigger warning: This article will discuss upsetting themes such as eating disorders, bullying and mental health problems.

Bulimia?

According to the NHS, bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition

The website further explains by stating:

People who have bulimia go through periods where they eat a lot of food in a very short amount of time (binge eating) and then make themselves sick, use laxatives or do excessive exercise, or a combination of these, to try to stop themselves gaining weight. Anyone can get bulimia, but it is more common in young people aged 13 to 17.

My experience

As someone who was always considered 'big', I have had problems with weight all throughout my life. I always used eating as a way of coping with stress until one day, it all changed. Through television, (Cassie from the popular early 2000s TV show, Skins specifically) and the Instagram, I had learned about losing weight by either not eating or excessively eating before forcing myself to be sick at the age of 12. By age 14, I could no longer stomach proper meals and did not need to force myself to vomit as it came naturally. At the age of 16, I gained weight again and today I still struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

However, I now try to exercise more thanks to a great support network and limited social media use. I stopped obsessing over photos I posted and realised a lot of body expectations are unrealistic. I learned to stop focusing on what others have said in the past and instead focus on self-love. It is a hard journey with many ups and downs however, everyone is capable of it. If you feel that you suffer from an eating disorder I recommend surrounding yourself with a great support network and I will list two charities below.

Bulimia and the internet

Bulimia and other eating orders are once again on the rise with many studies linking the internet and bullying on social media as reasons behind this. This is particularly evident in teenagers. One article on 'Eating Disorder Symptoms and Excessive Internet Use in Adolescents' published in 2021 found that:

In adolescents, eating disorders symptoms are associated with excessive internet use even when controlled for their shared psychological factors. Self-control issues were associated with both the eating disorder symptoms and excessive internet use, while emotional issues were only associated with the eating disorder symptoms.

It is so important that people limit their social media usage especially those who suffer from existing eating disorders and poor mental health. In a society where the internet is constantly evolving and more things are happening online such as schooling and work, it is important individuals learn to separate their social media lives and personal lives. This includes understanding the difference between realistic body expectations versus online unrealistic bodies. Learning self-love is another important factor everyone should learn.

Useful Links

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder please contact these institutions:

- Beat at: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk (NHS recommended)

- Orri at: https://www.orri-uk.com