Were the Roman emperors Claudius and Vitellius bulimic?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the eating habits of Romans during the first two centuries A.D. and their attitudes towards these eating habits in the light of contemporary Latin literary and historical sources and influential Greek medical sources.


METHODS
An extensive search of sources on the Roman Empire and emperors in the first two centuries A.D. was carried out. Two historical cases of binging and self-induced vomiting, namely the Emperors Claudius and Vitellius, were identified and described in translated extracts from the original Latin source.


CONCLUSIONS
It is noted that cultural and social factors are important influences on eating habits which would now be considered pathological.
Crichton
P
P
Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
D002032:Bulimia / Q000266:history*; D005197:Famous Persons; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018644:Roman World