Ailments and Situations - Bulimia |
 |
|
Page 1 of 6 Description
Bulimia is characterized by self-perpetuating and self-defeating cycles of binge-eating and purging. Simply put, it is an obsession with food and weight. Although bingeing is uniquely defined by each individual, a typical binge may represent eating 1,500 to 3,000 calories in a discrete period of time and done in an automatic and helpless manner. This is followed by attempts to rid the body of the food that was consumed by either engaging in self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics (purging types), or through excessive exercise, skipping meals, fasting, or dieting (non-purging types). These behaviours are quite harmful and can result in life-threatening problems. Statistics show that about 5% of teen aged girls are bulimic and nine out of every ten people suffering from the disease are female.
Symptoms and Signs: The major symptoms of bulimia involve inappropriate, compulsive behaviours to maintain or lose weight, such as the ones listed above. Again, these behaviours are not intentional. Bulimics sense a loss of control; feeling as if they cannot stop eating no matter what common sense tells them. Frequent trips to the bathroom and mood swings are common symptoms. Unlike anorexics, however, it is difficult to tell by physical appearance alone whether someone suffers from bulimia. Bulimics are not necessarily skinnier or larger than anyone else. Furthermore, their bingeing is done in hiding -- bulimics feel ashamed of what they are doing and can hide their secret from even their own families for years. Above all, bulimia can be traced to profound psychological issues. Someone with bulimia might display some of the following characteristics: severe anxiety over weight gain, obsessive rituals around food, distorted view of body image, low self-esteem, and depression.
|
