Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and excessive concern with weight gain, which leads to compensatory behaviors after meals to prevent weight gain, such as forced vomiting or the use of laxatives.
Most cases of bulimia are identified in female adolescents and in addition to excessive concern with weight gain, people who have bulimia usually have image distortion, low self-esteem, frequent mood swings, excessive calorie control, besides they can also show antisocial behavior and not usually eat with other people.
Bulimia is a disorder that directly impacts the quality of life of the person and the family, as it generates anguish and concern due to their behavior. Therefore, it is important that when any sign indicating bulimia is perceived, the person receives support from family members and is accompanied by a nutritionist and psychologist in order to improve their quality of life and avoid symptoms related to bulimia.
Main symptoms
Bulimia symptoms can be physical, psychological and behavioral, the main one being binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors due to fear of gaining weight, such as going to the bathroom frequently during and after meals, in addition to inducing vomiting.
In addition, it is possible for people who suffer from bulimia to experience tooth wear, chronic throat inflammation, dehydration and malnutrition. It is also a characteristic of this disorder the use of laxatives and appetite suppressants, as well as the practice of exaggerated physical activity in the way of eliminating everything that was consumed.
See more about the symptoms of bulimia.
Causes of bulimia
Bulimia has no definite cause, however its occurrence is often related to the cult of the body, having a strong influence from the media. Because of this, many times the person interprets that the body they have is not ideal and they start to "blame" them for their unhappiness and, therefore, eat and immediately eliminate what they have consumed so that there is no weight gain.
How treatment should be
Due to the fact that bulimia is a psychological and eating disorder, it is important that the person is accompanied by a psychologist and a nutritionist, mainly, so that dietary reeducation can begin. In addition, it is often necessary to take vitamin and mineral supplements as well as some antidepressant drugs or to help prevent vomiting. In severe cases, hospitalization or in specialized clinics for the treatment of eating disorders may be necessary.
The treatment for bulimia is time consuming, as the patient needs to learn to have a healthy relationship with food and to eat properly, avoiding weight gain and the compensatory behavior that comes after crises. See more about treatment for bulimia.
