The Definition and Treatment of Bulimarexia in College Women — A Pilot Study

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Abstract
In this study of college women we defined “bulimarexia” as a cyclical eating disorder characterized by bingeing/purging behaviors and abnormally low self-esteem. Binge-ing was the presenting symptom rather than starvation, as is the case with primary anorexia-nervosa. A new experiential-behavioral approach adapted to a feminist perspective was utilized. Improvements in the experimental group on Body Cathexis scores and on a number of personality dimensions from Cattell's 16 PF questionnaire were found. Binge-ing behavior was eliminated or attenuated in 10 of 12 cases. However, follow-up testing revealed a tendency to drift back to pretest levels attitudinally, indicating that this syndrome is extremely persistent. Results underline the importance of socio-cultural factors in female role-definition and reinforce the view of bulimarexia as related to the struggle to achieve a “perfect” stereotyped female image in which women surrender most of their self-defining power to others.

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