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You are here : home > Food and Nutrition > Eating Disorders and Compulsions > Bulimia: The binge-purge syndrome

Bulimia: The binge-purge syndrome

Bulimia: The binge-purge syndrome

This is the phrase that describes the eating disorder known as bulimia. One of the most famous bulimics was Princess Diana. Bulimia is often the response to stress and depression. Bulimics derive comfort from food. When such people feel low or angry for some reason, food is their 'pick-me-up.' They gorge themselves, preferably on high-calorie junk food. This gives them a 'high' helping them to forget their troubles for a little while.
Bulimics tend to be closet eaters. They gormandize secretly and then feel ashamed of their gluttony. They then induce themselves to vomit or take laxatives to purge themselves of the feeling of guilt. They have no control over their eating so they treat the effect rather than the cause by vomiting or taking laxatives. After a point bulimics can derive pleasure from the act of vomiting itself.
The pattern of binge and purge can result in ulcers, gastric and dental problems, acute disturbances in the chemical balances of the blood which could lead to heart attacks, sore throats, aching joints, and feelings of weakness, dizziness and apathy.

What are the causes of bulimia?

A lot of factors can be responsible for bulimia nervosa but the exact cause cannot be determined. Emotional, hereditary, cultural and environmental factors play a very important role in development of this disorder. Let us take a look at some of the common causes of bulimia.
  • Lack of self esteem
  • Stress and pressure due to drastic changes in life
  • Violence
  • Traumatic situations
  • Poor body image
  • Too much of attention paid to the appearance due to professional requirement mainly for fashion and entertainment industry
  • Influence of media

What are the common symptoms of bulimia?

Here are some of the common symptoms of Bulimia.
  • Excessive consumption of food
  • Using toilet frequently
  • Focusing too much on appearance and weight loss
  • Frequent fluctuations in weight
  • Lack of control on eating
  • Constant fear of gaining weight
  • Over exercising
  • Misuse of weight loss products

What complications can be caused due to bulimia?

Anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies are the primary psychological problems that can be caused due to bulimia. These problems are developed as a result of poor self image. The eating disorder like bulimia can cause serious repercussions on health. It can cause serious problems like kidney failure and heart problems like heart failure. In absence of timely intervention and right management, the problem like bulimia can even cause death.
Apart from the severe problems, bulimia can also cause problems like dehydration, infertility, digestive problems, delayed or irregular menstruation in females. Psychological problems may also give rise to alcohol and drug abuse in the patient.

How is bulimia treated?

The treatment of bulimia primarily focuses on restoring good eating habits and curbing the binge-purge cycle. Another important aspect of treating bulimia is to help the patient erase the thoughts of negative body image. The patient should be made to understand the importance of having a healthy body. He or she must be encouraged to respect his or her body.
The treatment also focuses on helping the patient deal with the emotional issues that may have given rise to this eating disorder. The treatment may involve helping patient to resolve interpersonal problems and other behaviour therapies.
Bulimia can become life threatening. Therefore, early intervention and right management of this disorder is extremely important. So, if you or your loved one is coping with bulimia, you must seek help of your doctor without delaying further. Your doctor or your healthcare provider can help you get right treatment and recover faster from this health issue.



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Leer
Leer.14 years ago
 
 
 
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Leer
Leer.14 years ago
also, i've been looking @ the power 90 program. it sounds effective. theres a website you can go to to look it sounds like something some of yal are looking for. but before you try any workout program talk to your doctor first. luv always leer.
 
 
 
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Sugarbaby0396
Sugarbaby0396.14 years ago
i know the feeling of being fat. even though i only weigh 115 pounds, everyday i struggle with what i am going to eat. i lost 45 pounds about 3 years ago in like 2 months, and go down to 105 pounds from 150...so i really know what it is like. i want to lose back down to 105, but i can't seem to find anything that works. will someone please let me in on some secretes to losing weight without having to kill yourself at the gym!!!!!
 
 
 
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crystal
crystal.14 years ago
i am 20 years old and i have buliemia,i've been bulimic since i was 17,i went from 185 down to 125 in a matter of months,it started happening after i had a breast reduction,i wanted a body to match my chest,so i started throwing up,i was depressed all the time,i was dehydrated,cold,moody and my breath stinks,i'm trying to get help now,and i even gained alittle weight,sometimes i feel real fat but deep down inside i know i'm beautiful,as so people tell me,i don't have to be this way,and ladies,neither should you,i decided my fate along time ago,please don't be stupid like me and go down the same path,i pray that i get better someday and will do everything in my power to get there,love urself!
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Leer
Leer.14 years ago
sugarbaby you seem to be almost at perfect weight. a little under maybe. so stop. you seem perfectly fine. and crystal im really happy for u that u learn to look over what u think and b healthy.
 
 
 
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sad
sad.14 years ago
i cant believe what happened to me...i gained weight.....now im 115 at 5'8. i dont know how this happened, but i am so miserable.....what do i do.................................
 
 
 
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Leer
Leer.14 years ago
sad, you shouldn't think that you weigh to much because at the height 5'8" you should be around 150 to 160 pounds. your not over wieght but actually very under. please start gaining weight and be healthy, eat more. it scares me when people like you that are too skinny think they are fat. i weigh 218 at 5'6" and thats when you need to lose wieght. not when your almost a stick. please, im begging you don't think that. i'll be praying for you.
 
 
 
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sad
sad.14 years ago
know what else sux? a mother who works for weight watchers and knows the exact range of weight you should be, and if you're unerweight, and always telling me that im underweight. if it's true, why cant i see that?
 
 
 
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Whatever
Whatever.14 years ago
sad,the reason you most likliy don't see that you'er underweight is because some miss understanding in your mind,people look at them selfe and put that they are fat in there head,even if they are not fat they still think they are,prhaps you should ask your doctor for some advice about your weight and what trigers the mind to think bad about it's body.and if you don't want to talk to a doctor then maybe you should do a little bit of research,when i did,i found that bulimia was trigerd by depression and persuer by looking at people that are thinner then you and wannting to look like them,anerexia is a disorder that starts in your head like most eating disorders exept anorexia kills you faster,you start to lose your apetite and then you cant take in food on your own.but if you feel bad about your selfe you have to see why you feel bad about your selfe,maybe you'er just depressed,or maybe you just hate your body,if you do hate your body you should really talk to a doctor about it.and you should look at who you are,iam suer your a nice person.and dont feel bad about your selfe it will drive you crazy if you do.
 
 
 
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me
me.14 years ago
hi im a 15 year old girl im 171cm tall and i weigh 70kg am i over weight?.....
 
 
 
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