Anorexia and bulimia – perfect body versus death

Abstract

Nervous anorexia and nervous bulimia are food disturbances (FD) of difficult treatment and of rise morbidity. The Programof Food Disturbances (Ambulim) of IPq-FMUSP is the first multidisciplinary Brazilian center for the treatment, teachingand research of the area. The service is based on multidisciplinary actions integrating essentially medical, nutritional andpsychological assistance. Physical activity is considered, since there are evidences of the association of dependence toexercise with FD. We observe a slow and gradual process leading to physical, emotional and social health worsening of apatient, with a morbid refusal to gaining weight. Her personal beliefs very often are based on the fact that “to be thin”, “staythin” is the key for her personal, affective and social success. The expectation about the body spread in the contemporarysociety, characterized by a notion of perfection connected to slimness, influences the physical image, essential element theetiology of FD. The media, by their turn, offer explicit instructions about how to reach the ideal of beauty, promoting thebelief that persons can, and in fact have to, to control his physical condition and weight. The work developed by a healthprofessional with a patient who develops FD is intense and full with challenges, and must go beyond health care. It is expectedthat professionals could share their knowledge with the population, warning it about the risks and care modalitiesin order to prevent FDs to be a life style choice for young people