Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating disorder in which a person will eat lots of food in a short amount of time and then purge it from their bodies to prevent gaining weight.  Methods of purging include vomiting, taking laxatives, pills, or similar agents to speed up bowel movements.  Due to the obsessive nature of this disease, other sufferers elect to take dangerous extremes in diet pills and other starvation methods only to have these periods of food abstinence followed by a binge eating session.

A bulimic person may exercise frequently and eat very little, or not at all between binges.  Even their exercise routines may teeter on obsessive, and given little amount of caloric intake these individuals absorb over time, these workouts can prove fatal.  The deadly nature of this disease does not discriminate among men, women, or races.  An estimated 90% percent of people with bulimia are women, but this disease affects all populations and cultures.

The causes of bulimia go beyond a problem with food.  Binges are known to be triggered by other factors, such as stress and dieting.  Emotional distress such as sadness, anger, and anxiety are known associative triggers.  Simply controlling a person with bulimia through regulating their eating habits is not a feasible option.  The psychological root causes of this disease led many bulimics to struggle with bulimia until proper psychological help is sought on a regular basis.

In some cases of progressed bulimia, institutionalization and constant psychological work is necessary not only to guide these individuals onto the correct track in their lives, but more vitally, this decision will simply save their lives.  Bulimic people may prevent eating in order to feel a sense of control and manage their anxiety and stress.  Helping these individuals through professional psychological help is the only way to help them manage this stress, anxiety, and underlying mental health issues.

Signs to look for include, using diet pills, taking laxatives or pills to promote bowel movements, and excessive exercise.  Other signs include swollen cheeks, calluses or scrapes on knuckle areas from induced vomiting, transparent looking teeth, and broken blood vessels in the eyes.  Along with these physical symptoms of bulimia, verbal cues and overly concerned and constant statements on weight and body image are often indicative of a potentially bulimic individual.

A psychologist can help persons determine causes and treatments for bulimia.  If you or someone you know may be suffering from bulimia, contact a psychologist for help today!

Read more on other mental health topics such as: Eating Disorder, Psychologist and Anorexia