Mara Fiorentino, M.D., provides treatment for eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia.  Both anorexia and bulimia can have some similar symptoms (such as distorted body image), but patients display very different behaviors relating to food.  

Patients with anorexia severely restrict their food intake for weight loss.  People with bulimia go through binges (eating excessive amounts of food) and then engage in extreme behaviors to prevent weight gain.  

Females are more prone to eating disorders, but it still is not uncommon for men to develop them also.  Approximate 1% of American women are plagued with anorexia, while 1.5% have bulimia (according to the ANAD or National Associate of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders).  Overall, an estimated 30 million Americans are struggling with one or the other of these eating disorders.  

Anorexia and bulimia both can sometimes be identified by an intense preoccupation with food and a dissatisfaction with body image.  Many times, weight loss becomes a way to regain control of the patient’s life after emotional trauma, depression, or anxiety.  

With anorexia, extreme dieting can produce severe side effects or symptoms, including extreme weight loss, dehydration, constipation, insomnia, dizziness, hair thinning, and irregular heartbeat, to name a few.  

Bulimics (patients with bulimia) develop unhealthy relationships with food.  After binging on large amounts of food, the patient will purge (vomit) or use diuretics, laxatives, or enemas to remove the food and calories from their system.  Another type of bulimic will fast for a period of time or do extreme exercising to burn calories.  

If you feel you have an unhealthy relationship with food and weight gain, call 850-654-0054 for an appointment to assess your situation.