Educational Media Reviews Online

Aptly titled, Inside Out. Stories of Bulimia, portrays in intimate detail the very different lives of five people suffering from this insidious eating disorder. The four women and one man profiled all speak openly and honestly, revealing their “stories” about what makes them start binging and purging and how they are each working to overcome the disorder.

And it is work. By the end of the program, it is quite clear that bulimia is not an easy problem to solve. While each person has their own personal reasons and triggers for wanting to start, there are certain common themes that emerge from each situation. Whether it is stress, body image or a means of empowerment, this eating disorder can quickly consume a person’s life. The bulimics in this program illustrate how good they are at concealing their habit, how hard it is to form lasting intimate relationships, and how devastating the condition is, often leading to suicidal thoughts. Two of the most powerful and educational moments in the film come from seeing the almost palpable anxiety that Christina and Doug experience as they both describe why they are purging again after staying away from it for several months.

Inside Out will be a good addition to health sciences collections in higher education, particularly for nutrition, nursing, psychology and social work courses. It does a good job at presenting the variety of people that are afflicted with bulimia as well as how easily it infiltrates a life and how hard it is to stop. It does not go into depth about psychological causes, physical problems or different treatment options. It will serve as an excellent classroom discussion starter, and may have a place in some clinical and even high school situations.