What is Bulimia?
Bulimia is a mental disorder that mostly affects women and can lead to painful health issues and long-lasting, detrimental ideas about body image. If someone you know has this disorder, help her seek treatment immediately.
What is Bulimia?
According to the NIMH, bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that is “characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these episodes.” The characteristics do not stop there as the person who does this will then exhibit “behavior that compensates for the overeating such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of these behaviors.”
These two acts go together for a person who is bulimic and the combination is referred to as a binge-purge cycle. A woman suffering from bulimia feels that “she cannot control the amount of food eaten” (OWH). She will usually feel ashamed afterward which is why she compensates by purging. The cycle often causes or goes along with other mental disorders like anxiety and depression and may cause other extreme health effects.
Signs of Bulimia
People with bulimia engage in binge eating and then purge their food after.
Women will show physical as well as behavioral signs of bulimia. Some of the signs are:
- Physical signs
- “Swollen cheeks or jaw”
- “Teeth that look clear”
- Blood vessels in the eyes that are broken
- “Chronically inflamed and sore throat” (NIMH)
- Gastrointestinal problems (such as acid reflux)
- Dehydration
- Behavioral signs
- Going to the bathroom every time she finishes a meal or several times during the meal (in order to throw up)
- Using “diet pills, or taking pills to urinate or have a bowel movement” (OWH)
- Excessive exercising
- Acting strangely or being ashamed after eating
- Obsessing over weight and body image
It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint bulimia as a woman who is suffering from the disorder might not be excessively skinny like someone who is anorexic. Women who are bulimic are all different shapes and sizes. Therefore, the physical and behavioral signs are very important to notice if you believe someone you know might be bulimic.
Treatment for Bulimia
Bulimia can be very detrimental to someone’s health, causing gastrointestinal problems, dental problems, and severe dehydration. There is also the chance of a person developing additional mental disorders if she has not already. If someone you know is suffering from bulimia, seeking treatment as soon as possible is very important for recovery.
CBT (or cognitive-behavioral therapy) can be highly effective in treating bulimia. Also, antidepressants are also helpful, “such as fluoxetine (Prozac), which is the only medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating bulimia nervosa” (NIMH). When a woman who is suffering from bulimia receives effective treatment, she may start to feel as if she is getting her life back.
According to the OWH, “bulimia affects people from all walks of life, including males, women of color, and even older women.” It is necessary to remember that anyone could be affected by this disorder as it causes so many issues and often goes undetected for a long time. Bulimia causes many problems and should be treated as soon as possible for the health and safety of the person who is struggling with the disorder.
-
Addiction and Eating Disorders: Why More Women in Rehab are Facing this Dual Diagnosis
- Whether or not a woman first has an eating disorder or an addiction, one will very often lead to the other.
-
Anorexia Symptoms to Be Aware Of
- Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder which is very dangerous to a person's health. Out of all mental health conditions, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate.
-
How Women are Affected by Eating Disorders
- Eating disorder often develop in a woman's adolescence, but they can develop at any time in a person's life. They can cause significant mental and physical distress.
-
Signs and Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
- Binge eating is a serious disorder and mental health condition. It can lead to health and lifestyle consequences, and if the signs are noted one should seek help.
-
Signs and Symptoms of Compulsive Overeating Disorder
- Here are some tips to identity Compulsive Overeating Disorder so you can help yourself or a loved one if need be.
-
Understanding the Types of Eating Disorders
- Eating disorders affect men and women, although women are more likely to develop a pattern of disordered eating. There are three main types, and a couple of others that have been noted.
Timberline Knolls
Women and teen girls struggling with addiction and eating disorders discover a pathway to health, healing, and hope in this peaceful, female-only treatment center located on 23-wooded acres in suburban Chicago.
Details ›
Sierra Tucson
This center in scenic upstate New York may seem like a vacation for hard-working nine-to-fivers, but between horseback riding, volleyball games, and trips to the beach, Saint Jude Retreats offers a tough but compassionate and supportive program that expects a commitment to personal accountability.
Details ›
Paradigm Malibu
Merriam Webster defines “Paradigm” as a theory or a group of ideas about how something should be done – a fitting definition for this unique, multifaceted treatment program for adolescents.
Details ›