 Bulimia, also known as bulimia nervosa, is a type of eating disorder. It happens when person eats a lot of food in a short period of time and then purge in order to prevent weight gain. Purging might be done in several ways:
- making oneself throw up
- taking laxatives, pills, or liquids that quicken movement of food through your body. This leads to bowel movement.
In order to prevent weight gain a teenager with bulimia may also use these ways:
- heavy duty of physical exercises
- eating very little or not at all
- taking pills to pass urine
This unsafe method of weight control includes vomiting, enemas, extreme use of diuretics and laxatives, and forced exercising. Shape and weight obsession is also symptoms of bulimia. For example, during the binge a teen that suffers from bulimia eats a much larger amount of food than other people eat. In such case the individual experiences a loss of control. Binge eating is usually response to depression, stress, or self esteem issues. The sense of a loss of control is followed by a short-lived calmness. The calmness is often followed by self-loathing. The cycle of purging and overeating usually becomes an obsession.
Bulimia affects about 10% teenage girls in the USA. Teenagers with bulimia may look quite normal. Most of them have normal weight, and some may be overweight. Girls with bulimia may be high achievers.
It is quite difficult to determine whether a teen is suffering from bulimia. This happens because purging or bingeing is often done in secret. Also such individuals often deny their conditions.
What are Symptoms of Bulimia?
- Uncontrollable eating, fasting, purging, vigorous exercise, strict dieting
- Going to the bathroom all the time after she eats to throw up
- Prejudice with body weight
- Changeable mood
- Swollen glands in face and neck
- Calluses and cuts on the back of the hands and knuckles
- Irregular periods
- Sore throat and dental problems
- Bloodshot eyes and weakness
Causes of Bulimia
- Culture. Most modern cultures have an ideal of extreme leanness
- Biology. Presence of hormones, genes, and chemicals in the brain that may have an effect on the development of bulimia
- Stressful events or life changes. Moving to a new place, school, job; traumatic events like rape
- Personal feelings. Feelings of helpless and hate for her appearance
- Families. The attitude of parents about appearance of their child.
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