Bulimia is a dangerous disorder that MANY women face in this country. It is more evident in young girls between the ages of 18-30. I like to post about this ‘non-fitnessy’ topic because I have suffered from this problem and feel blessed to confidently talk about it today.

One of our favorite American idols, Kelly Clarkson, recently ‘came out’ in an interview in Cosmo Girl’s August issue. Apparently, she suffered from the eating disorder for approximately 6 months. 6 months is a blessing in the Bulimia world! Many people suffer from it for many, many years.

Another popular idol, Katherine McPhee, has also exposed her struggle with Bulimia and admits to having sought a counselor and nutritionist prior to the months right before she entered the American Idol competition. Her struggles are evident in her old and new pictures.

Besides these idols, another ‘role model, Britney Spears, has also admitted to ‘bingeing and purging’ during her young adulthood. There is not much information about her struggle, but from ‘one bulimic to another’ - I can see the signs evident in her extremist actions.

One of the biggest celebrities whose battled bulimia is fitness guru, Jane Fonda. This is a shocker considering she was the poster child for fitness during the 80’s. What is NOT surprising is that she houses much of the same character traits as all other sufferers: perfectionism, obsession, low self worth.

Paul Abdul was a poster child for Bulimia after she suffered from it during her musical hey days!

Other high profile people include Princess Diana - view other celebs with eating disorders here.
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Fitness and eating disorders run hand in hand. Usually those who are obsessed with their bodies are involved in some type of beauty/fitness industry. Fitness Bulimia often coincides with this obsession for body perfection.

Things to look out for if you or someone you know have Bulimia:

- Obsession with weight/diet
- Low sense of worth
- Empty packages of food in the garbage
- Any vomit evidence around the toilet
- Leaving within 10-30 minutes after consuming a meal
- Secretive lifestyle
- Soreness around jaw
- Bloating around stomach
- Periods of extreme dieting to extreme bingeing
- Constant focus on body size

Things to do:
- CONFRONT the person
- Be more aware of their actions
- Seek counseling
- Find Positive Role Models
- Discontinue patterns that led up to the problem
- Put them in a different environment
- Have them focus on something outside of weight
- Don’t leave them alone around trigger foods
- Have them keep a diet journal
- Pray
- Read books on spirituality

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I would venture to say that A LOT OF PEOPLE in the fitness competition world have this problem. And I would also say that men are increasingly feeling the same type of ‘emptiness’ that has consumed women for years.

Trigger Sports:

- wrestling
- gymnastics
- fitness/figure competitions
- ballet
- swimming/track and field

God bless all of you - let’s all make progressions to promote the difference between ‘fitness and health’.