In recent years the incidence of bulimia in the United States has increased: The American Psychiatric Association estimates that today 1.1 to 4.2 percent of females will have bulimia in their lifetime. Many health professionals have expressed concern that bulimia, together with anorexia, binge eating, and other eating disorders may soon reach epidemic proportions. The Washington-based National Eating Disorders Association, which claims to be the largest advocacy and prevention organization in the world, estimates that 5 to 10 million girls and women and 1 million boys and men are battling some form of eating disorder in the United States.

Of those suffering from bulimia in the country, 90 to 95 percent are female. Most troubled are college-age women, teens, middle-aged women, and more recently, children. Among men, the most vulnerable are athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and those who have experienced various kinds of abuse, causing them to succumb to anxiety and, oftentimes, low self-esteem. The fourth...