Bulimia eating disorder, also
known as bulimia nervosa, is a condition wherein a person
engages in binge eating and will later feel guilty about it and
try to compensate. Compensatory methods can range from
self-induced vomiting or purging, to crash dieting, to excessive
exercising and even using laxatives.
The what of bulimia
Aside from the behaviors
mentioned above, bulimics, like anorexics, have a distorted
perception of their own bodies. They usually think they are too
fat when in fact, they are actually reed thin. People who suffer
from bulimia have a tendency to engage in binge eating when they
are depressed, have suffered a let-down or have been involved in
a situation or experience wherein their emotions are jarred or
thrown off-balance.
Bulimia can result in physical
problems or medical risks which could include ulcers, ruptured
intestines (due to repeated vomiting), dehydration, dental
caries, heart problems, swollen salivary glands and a host of
other complications primarily caused by lack of nutrition.
Majority of those who suffer from this disorder are teenagers,
and almost half of adolescent patients have been known to
experience relapse during their adult years despite successfully
defeating the first onset of the condition.
The why
There is no single cause for
bulimia. It is actually a condition that can start due to a
number of factors that can collaborate to push an individual to
become bulimic. Social, biological and psychological factors can
combine to create a scenario wherein a person will develop this
eating disorder.
According to some studies, most
eating disorders are largely influenced by the general
perception (particularly among girls) that being thin is sexy
and attractive. This can lead some people to think that gaining
weight will make them unattractive and that they will be
socially "unacceptable," which consequently, can lead them to
obsess about their body weight.
Experiences that impact the
psyche hardly and negatively can also push a person to turn to
food for comfort, particularly if he is not good with dealing
with emotions to begin with. There are also some studies, though
inconclusive, that have claimed that based on their genes, some
people are just more predisposed to suffer from eating disorders
than others.
The how
Treatment for bulimia is
usually multi-pronged. This includes psychological, nutritional
and physical therapies. Behavioral therapies have been used on
bulimics and other eating disorder patients to address the
emotional and mental aspects of the disorder. Specifically
prepared meals and medical attention are also part of the
treatment program. In some cases, antidepressants are used with
the belief that psychological treatment will then lead to full
physical recovery.
Bulimia eating disorder is
treatable. Support from family and friends and the patient'
willingness to get better are the primary prerequisites toward
recovery.
