Bulimia Nervosa Is A Serious, Life Threatening Eating Disorder

An equally disruptive eating disorder that has been seen in increasing numbers in recent years is Bulimia. About two percent of American women are affected by this disorder. Bulimia is characterized by a distinctive binging and purging cycle. Individuals with this disorder will often times consume large amounts of food, and the immediate throw it back up. These binging and purging actions have substantial medical risks. Additionally, some individuals consume large amounts of food and then proceed to exercise for exorbitant amounts of time. This can also be a risk to ones wellbeing. Other characteristics associated with Bulimia include the abuse of laxatives and diuretics. Individuals with this disease often times completely lose control over their dietary habits. The massive highs and lows cause emotional instability. The mood swings that

Bulimia has many symptoms. Bulimics have a preoccupation with food and are usually secretive about their addiction to food. A bulimic’s self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. Bulimics suffer from internal bleeding, including gastric ulcers due to trauma from forceful vomiting. Bulimics have tooth and gum decay caused by stomach acids. They also have swollen salivary glands, and broken blood vessels in their eyes, as a result of self-induced vomiting. Bulimics are typically high achievers.

The human body is a consistent running machine that needs to have fuel through out the day in order to keep it running. By having Bulimia, it forces you as a person to eat a large portion of food that your body is not used to, therefore sending your body on a world wind of nervous ness and then regret for eating all of the food that has been consumed There are many effects that Bulimia has on the body. The first is the effect on the mind, many people that have the disorder live a secret life that

My desperation to become accepted led to my bulimia. At the time, I thought it would be a once in awhile type of thing – something that I could easily stop. But in reality, bulimia stuck with me for more than three years and has yet to leave. At that thought, I realized that not only was my physical body harmed, but my mentality was damaged as well.

Bulimia generally begins when someone tries to starve themselves which triggers the body with an uncontrollable urge to eat. Once the person gives in, the body has a disorderly desire to eat large sums of food. This stage is then linked with a loss of control and constant feelings of guilt and shame which leads to the temptation of uncontrollable purging.

(Cauwels 3) Bulimic can grow to a point where it takes complete control of life. Bulimia is frequently associated with a typical depression. (CQ Researcher 869) In example, a typical depression can be concluded from the environments a person lives, works, or attends school at. Bulimic behavior ranges from occasional overeating at parties to consuming fifty thousand calories and vomiting twenty times a day. (Cauwels 3) Warning signs for bulimia nervosa include the following: evidence of binge eating, evidence of purging behaviors, excessive exercise, unusual swelling of the cheeks and jaw area, stained teeth, and withdrawal of friends or activities. (National Eating Disorders

Researchers have found that in many cases dealing with eating disorders, the person may be dealing with difficulties trying to cope with their emotions and events in their lives, problems controlling impulsive behaviors or trouble managing their moods. These disorders have also been linked to women with a history of sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Scientists also have proof linking eating disorders to genetics. It is from the imbalance of serotonin which is a chemical in your brain involved in depression. Other reasons people may develop eating disorders are perfectionism, depression, low self-worth, self-loathing, poor body image, to acquire a sense of security, and it also has been used as an unconscious attempt to resolve conflict or seek control. In many cases, bulimia has been used as an escape method for dealing with other problems in life like, family dysfunctions, the feeling of abandonment, and a past of sexual abuse or other painful past experiences. Bulimia gives a person a sense of control when they feel as if everything else in life has gone out of

Bulimia is categorized as “frequent episodes of binge eating, followed by frantic efforts to avoid gaining weight.” (Barston). People will throw up, use laxatives, and/or excessively work out to avoid gaining weight. Many people who diet fall under what is called the binge and purge cycle. It starts off with strict dieting, which leads to tension and cravings.

Researchers say that the exact cause of Bulimia is unknown. There are many factors that could play a role in the development of this eating disorders, including biology, emotional health, society high expectations of a woman’s body and other mental issues. Researchers were able to pinpoint some of the most common causes of Bulimia which include low self-esteem, extreme drive for perfection and a distorted body image. There are many symptoms of Bulimia including binge eating, purging, lack of control when eating, exercise obsession, and dehydration. People suffering from Bulimia may need several types of treatment including psychotherapy, journaling, yoga, and art therapy.Researchers say keeping busy with relaxing activities helps the person suffering to get over the disorder. Bulimia is a terrible disease linked to many deaths and it is important to know the causes, symptoms, and

Secondly, bulimia affects the victim physically. Bulimia is not something that goes away when the disorder is finally worked through. It leaves lasting and negative effects on the body. There are permanent weight issues, metabolism problems, and

Bulimia is a disorder centered around an individual’s obsession with food and weight. This obsession involves eating large quantities of food, feeling guilty about the food consumption, and taking drastic measures to prevent caloric/fat absorption. Measures vary with each individual and include one or all of the following: forced vomiting, abuse of laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise. This disease affects one to three percent of adolescent and young women in the United States, and bulimic behaviors are displayed by ten to twenty percent of adolescent and young women in the United States (http://dcs.engr.widener.edu/galla/gal la.htm).

There is no single cause for bulimia nervosa. However, there are many risk factors that contribute to this problem, including low self-esteem and concerns about weight. Other risk factors include genetic factors like being a female (80% of bulimia patients are female), age (often begins in the mid-teens or early adulthood), psychological and emotional issues (decreased self-esteem, impulsive behavior, depression, negative body image), social pressure during teen years and performance pressure in sports (particularly common among athletes such as gymnastics, ballet dancers and runners) (Edelstein, Haskew, Kramer, 2009). Parents need to identify possible factors that place the adolescent at risk for bulimia nervosa and be aware of any changes that may indicate the presence of an eating disorder.

Bulimia Nervosa was first characterized as a mental disorder in 1979 by Gerald F.M. Russell. Bulimia nervosa was initially a variant of anorexia nervosa, but now the disease has its own symptoms, and is distinguished as a psychiatric condition (Palmer, 2005). Bulimia Nervosa seems to occur in adolescents and women between the ages of 14-40. The percentage of men suffering from the disease are about 10% (Farrar, 2014).

An interesting fact that I did not know is that 50% of individuals with an eating disorder abuse drugs and alcohol. It’s not shocking to me that bulimics would abuse drugs and alcohol, not only because it can be used as an escape from the world and themselves, but also because numerous drugs and alcohol effect appetite, usually in a negative way, aiding to weight loss. This disorder really is a never ending cycle. First the body distortion image develops, then the binge eating occurs, followed by guilt that leads to purging, vomiting, etc., which turns into depression that is commonly coped with through drugs, alcohol, or food, which in turn starts the cycle over again.

Causes. There is no reason that can be considered as a cause of Bulimia Nervosa, but the low self -esteem of a person and concerns about his body image and weight are playing a huge role in encouraging the appearance of such eating disorder. People who are suffering bulimia in most cases have psychological issues , which are connected with their emotions and they are not able to overwhelm those troubles in a healthy way. Overeating for bulimics is an emotional feature, thus they facilitate their depression, anger, stress, and anxiety. There are four basic risk factors of Bulimia Nervosa: