Bulimia – Bulimia involves a destructive cycle of bingeing and purging. Following an episode of out-of-control binge eating, people with bulimia take drastic steps to purge themselves of the extra calories. In order to avoid weight gain they vomit, exercise, fast, or take laxatives.
Symptoms of Bulimia
A physical exam may reveal signs of chronic binging and purging.
Dental cavities, loss of tooth enamel, enlarged salivary glands, and scars on the knuckles may be present as a result of chronic self-induced vomiting.
Signs of malnutrition or dehydration may be present including dry skin, changes in the hair and nails, swelling of the lower legs and feet, or loss of sensation in the hands or feet.
What Causes Bulimia?
There are several different theories about what is involved in the development of bulimia. Bulimia may have a hereditary component, and some experts believe that a family environment with an overemphasis on achievement may be another contributing factor. The role of sexual abuse in the development of bulimia is controversial. Other psychological and environmental factors may be involved -- these may include mood disorders and substance abuse in families of people with bulimia. Individuals with bulimia may also experience depression, self-mutilation, substance abuse, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Cultural pressures to appear slender contribute to the disorder, particularly among dancers and athletes.
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder most commonly known for the binging and purging actions of the sufferer. Bulimics will go on eating binges, where they eat uncontrollably for a short period of time, and then will induce vomiting in hopes of compensating for the calorie intake and prevent weight gain.
Not all bulimics, however, induce vomiting. There is a second kind of bulimia, where the sufferer employs other behaviors, including fasting and extreme exercise. The sufferers of bulimia nervosa usually maintain average or above average weights, so they may be difficult to recognize.
Bulimia Self Care at Home
As part of a support circle for a person with bulimia, you can be of help at home by monitoring the person’s behavior and helping them maintain a reasonable eating pattern. Offer support and encouragement to help the person get and stay in treatment. You can also ensure that the person keeps appointments with doctors and other therapists.
Fortunately, treatment is available for eating disorders. The most common element surrounding Eating Disorders is the inherent presence of a low self-esteem. Thus treatment consists of Counseling, treating physical problem, Psychotherapy. The goal of mental health treatment is to provide a support system and end the isolation and shame commonly felt by patients
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
1. It involves changing responses to stressful situations, and learning to cope with situation rather than use food as a first resort.
2. Helps in changing self-perception about body shape and weight.
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Therapeutical treatment for eating disorders is just one of many treatments available, fast diet however this treatment does not suit everyone so it is recommended to seek advise from a professional It is very difficult to know what to do if you have teenagers who are constantly trying to lose weight and dieting. Bulimic! You can get free advise from a professional dietician or physician if you or your teenage children are losing weight drastically – mesentery
Related Articles
Bulimia – Symptoms and Causes of Bulimia
By: peterhutch | 24/03/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Bulimia is an eating disorder. Someone with bulimia might binge on food and then vomit (also called purge) in a cycle of binging and purging. Binge eating refers to quickly eating large amounts of food over short periods of time. Purging involves forced vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting in an attempt to lose weight that might be gained from eating food or binging.
Are Eating Disorders Related to Bad Habits (part 1)?
By: Keith Crovatt | 15/02/2007 | Weight Loss
Eating disorders are characterized by an abnormal obsession with food and weight. Eating disorders are much more noticed in women than in men due to the fact that men often don't seek help.
Stop Denying yourself
By: Leeann Simons | 28/09/2007 | Health
IMAGINE you could eat whatever you want whenever you want. Yes, you probably would gain weight tat first, because you are eating all the treats you have forbidden yourself. Now, if you can eat ice cream whenever you want, do you really think you need to eat it all the time? It is hard to trust yourself without the structure of a diet. But please try it, and you'll find that you can control your urges and enjoy food without guilt.
Cold Memories of Hot Pants
By: Leeann Simons | 28/11/2007 | Health
Even though clothing ads make us think it's a "one size fits all" clothing market, it's not. Unfortunately, when the clothes don't fit, we think it's our bodies, not the dress, or shirt. We need to understand that we have unique shapes, and look for those clothes that we like, and look good on us. Stop trying to look like everyone else-look like yourself!
What Happens When "just Do It" Isn't Enough?
By: Leeann Simons | 19/01/2008 | Health
What happens when there is no activity you are interested in? How do you"fulfill" your exercise recommendations when you don't even want to get started? If you are truly interested in changing your behaviors, then you need to work on your attitude. Looking at exercise from a "cost/benefit" perspective may help you get off your chair and start walking. You know why to do it-you just need help getting started.
Identifying Common Eating Disorders Part Three
By: Phoenix Delray | 10/03/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
This article talks about some other the symptoms of food eating disorders.
What is Compulsive Eating?
By: Jack L Bloom | 06/07/2008 | Health
Simply defined, compulsive eating is addiction to food. But more than just overeating, it has some psychological effects on a person, making them feel guilty and shameful of eating too much. Compulsive eating is an eating disorder that makes a person overweight, while going through a series of complications both...
Bulimia - Information on a "secret" Disorder
By: Andrew C. Povel | 26/06/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Bulimia affects thousands of people in the world today. What are the symptoms? What are the signs? How can it be treated?
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I need serious help. two years ago i lost a lot of ...
By: Lenniebens | 17-07-2008
I need serious help. two years ago i lost a lot of weight and became anorexia. but i got help from my doctor and a counselor but i never got over the whole eating disorder. but i got to a healthier weight and ate healthy and really restircted my diet. but then after a year (with my parents always on my back and saying to eat more or dont exercise that much) i started to look at food at a comforting. so i gained like 12lbs in a month from binging and i cant stop!! so like yesterday i started to purge. but god i hate how fat i got. i promised my mom i would never purge. :( god idk what to do, i hate food but i love it. im never happy anymore. please help
Friend in a major slump
By: talico33 | 07-04-2008
I have a friend who I believe is falling into a major depression. She's not eating and is way too skinny. She's completely negative about everything about herself and literally sits at home and cries all day. She says she hates her family, and has no friends, and tries to fake being happy so that people will 'tolerate' her. I've been trying to talk to my friend, trying to make her feel better, tell her that I think she is a strong, beautiful, funny and amazing woman. I've been trying to get her to come out with me and my friends so that she can meet new people and start to enjoy herself, but she just wont have any of it. It's starting to get to the point now where I almost don't have the energy for it anymore. What do I do? How do I help my friends get out of this major slump?
Can you lose weight from being bulimic
By: aleighartificial | 26-03-2008
Can you lose weight from being bulimic or just maintain your weight?
Recovery without IP?
By: OhmGirl | 02-03-2008
Do you believe it is possible to recover from a long-term eating disorder without a formal IOP or IP program?
Helping a friend with an eating disorder
By: sarahs | 24-01-2008
My friend is bulimic. She has been for a couple of years now. She was in a program and got help for what they called "exercise bulimia", but it seemed to be only a temporary solution. She has not gotten better at all from what I can see. I love her and want to help her. What can I do without making the situation worse?
Binge Eating
By: GoodKarma | 24-12-2007
I have cases of binge eating when I'm sad. Does anyone have similar experiences? When do you find yourself binge eating?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Diseases and Conditions Articles
Colon Health is a Matter of Life and Death
By: Paul Rodgers | 26/07/2008
Herbal colon therapy is the cornerstone of much of our treatment for bowel conditions in the same way that endonasal therapy is the cornerstone for the treatment of ear, nose and throat diseases. To the uninitiated it might seem that the most obvious reason for the herbal colonic treatment would be for correcting constipation.
Ways Of Getting Back Pain Relief
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Back pain can be a very distressing problem in your life. It will not only affect you physically but can be emotionally very depressing.Back pain can be a very distressing problem in your life.
Use Of Lower Back Pain Remedies
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Back pain has now become a very common problem which can affect any age group. The pain in the lower back can be due to injury or accident, displaced disc, degenerated muscle etc. There are several exercises and stretches that can constitute a good lower backache remedy.
Use These Back Pain Relief Products For A Healthy Back
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
As back pain has emerged as the most common problem in present day, various back pain relief products have surfaced in the market. People rely a great deal on these products to get positive results.
How To Be Independent With Schizophrenia
By: Ronen David | 26/07/2008
When people suffer from schizophrenia mean the condition where a person may find it difficult to differentiate what is real and what is not
The Unnerving Symptoms Of Back Pain
By: Apurva Shree | 26/07/2008
Are you facing periodical pain in your spine, neck, shoulders, hips, and waist or while moving your hands? If yes, be careful. You could be facing the symptoms of back pain.
Why Osteoporosis Is Still The Silent Thief
By: Joseph Nyamache | 25/07/2008
Because of the high prevalence rates of more common diseases like AIDS and Diabetes, most people tend to ignore other diseases that are equally important in our lives such as osteoporosis
Natural Remedies for Chicken Pox - Your Kids Will Thank You
By: Shannon Pollock | 25/07/2008
Chicken pox has been around forever and parents across the world know that it is normally a reason to panic. It can be very irritating for the person that has it though and it is commonly thought of as a childhood disease.
More from Peter sams
Skin Care – How to Get Rid of Oily Skin
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Skin Care
Oily skin is shiny, thick and dull colored. Usually a chronically oily skin has boorish pores and pimples and other embarrassing blemishes. In this type of skin, the oil producing sebaceous glands are overactive and produce more oil than is required.
Skin Care – Young Skin Care Tips
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Skin Care
Your skin mirrors your lifestyle. All men and women like healthy skin all age. Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it is very must to keep it as healthy as your heart, lungs and liver.
Guidelines for Eye Makeup- How to Apply Eye Makeup, Eye Shadow, Eyeliner Pencils
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Skin Care
Making the eyes come alive is a real art and like any good artist you will have to first leam the exacting techniques of accurate Brush work and careful color-blending.
Atypical Moles Information
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Skin Care
Atypical Moles is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Atypical Moles may occur to the people at any age.
Tips to Make Your Hair Shine and Healthy
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Hair Loss
Beautiful hair must be shiny and healthy. Healthy, glossy, manageable hair reflects light and falls around the face beautifully, is the dream of every woman that is not so difficult to attain after all.
Dry Eye – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Dry eye produces discomfort and reduces vision when the tear film becomes chronically table or unavailable thereby leading to dryness of the conjunctiva and cornea.
Dandruff – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Hair Loss
DANDRUF is a very common problem indeed, that of flakes falling from the scalp every time a person combshis/her hair or rubs the head. Dandruf is caused by a commonyeast cell pityresporen ovale which causes an inflammation of the scalp, making it shed flakes.
Typhoid – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
By: Peter sams | 08/03/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Typhoid Fever disease is caused by a bacteria called Salmonella typhi. It is a common diseasein the sub continent and affects all age groups. The poor hygiene conditions, open sanitation habits, flies, sale of exposed food, and illiteracy is responsible for this disease.
Health 
