Bulimia Nervosa is a common eating disorder characterized by overeating or binging followed by induced purging or vomiting in order to lose weight. Bulimia is a mental illness that can seriously affect the emotional and physical well-being of the patient if it is left untreated.
Patients usually eat more than they should then feel guilty about the amount of food they ate. This is one of the reasons why they would try to force themselves to get rid of that food by inserting a finger into their throat to induce vomiting. Bulimia patients are rather difficult to identify because they will usually throw up in private and will not talk about their health condition. Moreover, they are not extremely thin or underweight like anorexia patients. In fact, they might be even obese or overweight and simply engage in such an unhealthy eating practice to avoid further weight gain.
It is difficult to determine the exact cause of bulimia nervosa; however, there are a lot of factors that can lead to the development of the condition. Some doctors believe in the genetic link where patients are at a higher risk if a close relative is already suffering from an eating disorder. Some patients struggle with their self-worth and self-image as they want to maintain a perfect image. They might engage in binging behavior because they have difficulty expressing their true feelings and later feel guilty or uncomfortable about the amount of food they consumed. This usually leads to the purging behavior.
Bulimia Side Effects:
Bulimia is a severe and life-threatening eating disorder that requires immediate intervention. If left untreated, patients can suffer from a lot of medical and psychological side effects that can seriously affect the quality of their lives.
Patients usually experience social isolation. First, they will spend more time alone in order to binge and eat excessively. Such behavior is not socially acceptable and might raise a few questions marks. At the same time, they will later need to spend time alone to purge. The most common form of purging is vomiting, which is again usually done in private. Social isolation usually leads to depression and can affect the relationships with family, friends and work colleagues.
Purging is practiced to get rid of food before it is absorbed by the body to prevent weight gain. The most common type is of purging is vomiting, although some patients might also use laxatives and enemas to get rid of food. Vomiting causes permanent inflammation of the esophagus which damages its internal lining. This can be followed by ulcers or internal bleeding. The excessive use of laxatives usually messes up with the digestion process and can also lead to permanent colon damage.
Due to engaging in binging behavior, the person will start to spend a lot of money to buy excessive amounts of food which ultimately jeopardizes their financial status. Some patients might even go bankrupt because they are spending too much money on food. Such behavior is associated with guilt and self-loathing which can lead to suicidal thoughts and self-harm.
Bulimia is treatable and shouldn’t be ignored. If you or someone you know is suffering from Bulimia, it is time to seek professional help. A health care provider will suggest the proper treatment plan and will help you take things into your hands once more.
