Bulimia Nervosa

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Like anorexia, bulimia is a serious psychological eating disorder that can be life threatening if left untreated. Individuals with this condition live in constant fear of putting on weight and use unnatural ways to get rid of the food, such as intense exercise, taking laxatives or forced vomiting. This illness is most commonly found in girls in their late teens and early twenties. Individuals with bulimia are often very insecure and constantly seek for the approval of others. Due to this insecurity, food becomes their main comfort.

Bulimia consists of an individual binge eating (compulsively eating a much larger amount of food than normal). This is not because the person is really hungry but more to comfort themselves from other issues such as stress or depression. The foods consumed during this binge eat are usually comfort foods, such as sweets, cakes and chocolate with high values of sugar and lots of calories or high carbohydrate foods. The sufferer then feels appalled and thinks they have to relieve themselves by getting rid of the food, usually by vomiting shortly after the binge.

Some bulimics will use this method of getting rid of food even if they haven't had a binge and they just feel they have eaten more than they should have. Many sufferers are deeply ashamed of their behaviour, therefore almost always relieve themselves by forced vomiting in secret.

Symptoms:

Bulimia can remain undetected for many years, as the sufferer is usually very secretive about 'getting rid of their food'. Due to this, the illness itself will only be diagnosed if the individual shows several of the symptoms below.

Dramatic increased food intake yet no weight change

The smell of vomit in the bathroom on a number of occasions

Intense exercise regimen

Leaving the table immediately after a meal and frequently going to the bathroom

Isolation from friends or family

Depression

Impulsive behaviour

Blistering on the knuckles from forced vomiting

Frail hair or nails and dry skin

Frequent stomach pains and feeling weak and tired

Menstrual cycle ending

Feeling dehydrated

Causes:

Unfortunately research has not yet been able to identify a definite cause of bulimia, however it is thought that a combination the factors below affect its development.

• Bulimia usually begins by an individual feeling unsatisfied with their figure and realizing this is a way to manage their weight without dieting, being unaware of the consequences.
• Pressure from society to be thin, in order to be perceived as 'normal'.
• Role models in the media (underweight actresses, supermodels etc.)
• Genetic causes - you are at higher risk of developing an eating disorder if it is in your family history, especially if your Mum suffered from the illness.
• Major life changes or a trauma, such as family problems, losing someone close to you, physical or sexual abuse.

Common Side Effects:

Tooth discolouration (stomach acid when vomiting)

Tooth and gum problems

Dry, fragile bones, hair and nails

Inflammation of oesophagus (force vomiting)

Feeling weak, tired and dehydrated

Broken blood vessels in the eyes

Isolation from others

Disruption of menstrual Cycle

Stomach pain

Feeling guilty and depressed

More Extreme Side Effects:

Kidney problems, even failure

Heart problems or irregular heartbeats

Chronic irregular bowel movements

Problems in pregnancy

Death

Medical Help and Treatment:

Like the majority of illnesses, the longer an individual suffers from it, the worse it becomes which is why it is very important to try and detect bulimia as soon as possible. Treatment of this eating disorder usually involves medical doctors, dieticians and mental health experts such as a therapist or counsellor to provide a support network. There are counsellors and therapists who specialise in eating disorders providing comfort for the individual and to help determine any psychological reasons for the unnatural eating habits. The counselling is often combined with antidepressant medication.

It has been found that the most successful treatment is a mixture of medication, family therapy, patient education and behavioural therapy.

Difference Between Bulimia and Anorexia

Bulimics consume vast amounts of food then force themselves to vomit in order to get rid of it, anorexics do not eat large amounts of food, they limit their consumption to a minimum.

Individuals with bulimia can usually stay at a normal weight but anorexics tend to lose weight at quite a rate, sometimes dropping to below 6 stones.

Sufferers of bulimia do recognise their problem and are therefore much more likely to seek help themselves. The majority of individuals with anorexia however, cannot see they have a problem and it is therefore imperative that people close to them encourage them to seek help or find help for them.

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This content is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the advice given by any professional.