Katie Couric's Bulimia Battle

Introduction - Katie Couric's Bulimia Battle

It's no surprise to hear of about Katie Couric's bulimia battle, directly from the perky blonde daytime hostess and former anchor news woman.

Why?  Katie Couric is always willing to tackle some tough topics.   Afterall, Katie took colon cancer out of the closet as a direct result of her own tragedy with losing a husband to the disease.

It's estimated that 8 million people are suffering from an eating disorder.

Bulimia Occurs Most Often In Women

Bulimia nervosa is nine times more likely to occur in women than men.   The vast majority of those with the eating disorder classified as bulimia nervosa are at normal weight.

Patients who have bulimia nervosa are often linked with having impulsive behaviors involving overspending and sexual behaviors as well as having family histories of alcohol and substance abuse, mood  and eating disorders.

Antidepressants and other prescription drugs, are widely used in the treatment of bulimia nervosa

Page Six Exclusive Details Of Katic Couric's Bulimia Battle

Katie Couric's bulimia battle was the trigger for her TV special about eating disorders which New York's Page Six exclusively discovered and reported.  Page Six announced that Katie makes an emotional confession about her eating disease when she interviews X Facter judge Demi Lovato on her new daytime talk show.

Katie Couric's bulimia battle is an appropriate topic to discuss with Demi who was known to seek treatment for serious physical (possible cutting) and emotional issues which included a alleged eating disorder in late 2010.

Katie Couric's bulimia battle involved the purging type of the disease.  There are actual two types of bulimia.  Purging and non-purging.

Two Types Of Bulimia Nervosa

There are two sub-types of bulimia nervosa:

A. Purging type bulimics self-induce vomiting (usually by triggering the gag reflex or ingesting emetics such as syrup of ipecac) to rapidly remove food from the body before it can be digested, or use laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

B. Non-purging type bulimics (approximately 6%–8% of cases) exercise or fast excessively after a binge to offset the caloric intake after eating. Purging-type bulimics may also exercise or fast, but as a secondary form of weight control.

With 25+ years of personal recovery from the non-purging type of bulimia I can report that it's just as dangerous as the purging type.

Bulimia Nervosa  & Hair Loss

Although there are many horrendous side effects of bulimia nervosa, one of the most common ones if chronic

* Chronic gastric reflux after eating

* Dehydration and hypokalemia caused by frequent vomiting

* Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even death

* Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus

* Boerhaave syndrome, a rupture in the esophageal wall due to vomiting

* Oral trauma, in which repetitive insertion of fingers or other objects causes lacerations to the lining of the mouth or throat

* Gastroparesis or delayed emptying

* Constipation

* Infertility

* Enlarged glands in the neck, under the jaw line

* Peptic ulcers

* Calluses or scars on back of hands due to repeated trauma from incisors[12][13]

* Constant weight fluctuations are common

* Severe teeth erosion

* Scarred hands

College Years For Katie Couric's Bulimia Battle

According to Page Six the 55 year old talk show hostess reports who own eating disorder battle which she struggled with "all through college at the University of Virginia and for two years after".   In discussing her battle with food, Katie discusses the self-loathing, self-punishment and other behaviors she lived through as a result of her disease.

Katie Couric's bulimia battle was still a challenge as she started her legendary TV career at the ABC News bureau in Washington, D.C.

How did Katie win her bulimia battle?  Sources have revealed that Katie worked with a therapist and spent time researching all the lasting medical damage bulimia can do to the body.

How Katie Couric Beat Her Bulimia

Sources tell us she was eventually able to beat the eating disorder with the help of a therapist and personal research into the lasting medical damage purging does to the body.

Most of the show where Katie Couric's bulimia battle  is revealed is actually focused on Lovato, 20, who has opened up about her battles with eating disorders and cutting.

Last year Lovato told Seventeen magazine about the events which lead up to her treatment.  She told Seventeen “I basically had a nervous breakdown. I was really bad off, My parents and my manager pulled me aside and said, ‘You need to get some help.’ ”

Summary - Katie Couric's Bulimia Battle

As always Katie Couric is willing to tackle tough and controversial topics.  Kudos to her for bringing bulimia into the spotlight so that those struggling in the darkness might find some help, hope and inspiration.