Bulimia more widespread than thought

Press, 13 February 1986, Page 13

Bulimia more widespread than thought

PA Dunedin The eating disorder, bulimia, is more widespread than most people thought, says Associate Professor Ann Hall, of the University of Otago Wellington Clinical School. It is probably becoming more common, she says. People with bulimia at times consume large amounts of food in a short space of time. This is often followed by selfinduced vomiting. Little research has been done on the condition in New Zealand until recently. Mr Gary Welch is studying for a doctorate under Professor Kali’s supervision in the department of psychological medicine, and is researching the condition. Funding for the project will come from the Ashburn Hall Research Foundation in Dunedin ($5000) and the Wellington Medical Research Foundation ($5205). Other funding has come from the Wellington Hos-

pital Board and the Medical Research Council. The study has been looking at groups of young people in Wellington. Most have been women. A preliminary paper on the work will be presented by Mr Welch at a conference in Sydney next month. Professor Hall says the incidence of bulimia is tied to the enormous amount of non-medical dieting. Spells of dieting are often followed by overwhelming urges to eat enormous amounts. The vomiting can lead to loss of stomach juices, splitting of the gullet, and permanent harm to teeth. As with anorexia nervosa, Professor Hall says, bulimia is more common with younger women. Overseas studies put the numbers of young women with the condition at five to 15 per cent. Professor Hall says the Wellington work is not a community study, but she estimates the New Zealand figure to be about 7 per cent.