People With Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder. Someone with bulimia may binge on food and then vomit (also called purge) in a cycle of binging and purging. Binge eating refers to quickly eating large quantities of food over short periods of time. Purging involves forced vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise or fasting in order to lose weight that could be derived from eating food or binging.

Bulimia, also called bulimia is a spectrum disorder, eating disorders. Bulimia is characterized by episodes of excessive eating secret (bulimia), followed by inappropriate methods of weight control, such as induced vomiting (purging), abuse of laxatives or diuretics, excessive exercise. Like anorexia, bulimia is a psychological disorder. There is another condition that goes beyond out of control regime. The cycle of overeating and purging can quickly become an obsession similar to an addiction to drugs or other substances.

Symptoms of Bulimia

Signs of malnutrition or dehydration may be present, including dry skin, changes in hair and nails, swelling of the legs and feet, or loss of sensation in hands or feet.

Eating in a period of time (eg, in a period of two hours), a quantity of food that is definitely larger than most people eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.

Although bulimics are afraid of becoming fat, being underweight is not a warning sign of bulimia characteristics. In fact, people with bulimia are usually of normal weight or even overweight. If someone attacks and purges, but is clearly insufficient, he or she probably suffers the type of purging anorexia rather than bulimia.

Excessive exercise - works hard, especially after eating. Typical activities include calorie burners to high intensity such as running or aerobics.

Nonpurging bulimia: You use other methods to get rid of calories and prevent weight gain, such as fasting or overexercising, which is sometimes called the exercise bulimia.

The causes of bulimia

Experts agree that cultural factors are very important in the development of eating disorders. Modern society with emphasis on health, including weight loss, can greatly influence those who seek the acceptance of others.

Families: It is likely that bulimia runs in families. Many people with bulimia have sisters or mothers with bulimia. Parents who think looks are important, their own diet, or judge their children's bodies are more likely to have a child with bulimia.

Many more women than men have bulimia, and the disorder is more common among adolescents. The person concerned is generally aware of the fact that his diet is abnormal and may experience fear or guilt associated with binge-purge episodes. Although the behavior is usually secretive, clues to this disorder are hyperactive, own eating habits or rituals, and often heavy.

Sociocultural: The modern Western culture in general grows, and strengthens the desire for thinness. Success and worth are often equated with thinness. Peer pressure may fuel this desire to be thin, particularly among girls.

In some neurological or medical conditions, it may be disturbed eating behavior, but the essential feature of psychological bulimia, extreme concern with body shape and weight, is not present. For example, bulimia is a common feature of depression, however, these individuals do not engage in inappropriate behavior and weight loss do not exhibit excessive concern about body image and weight loss that is characteristic of bulimia .