Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known as bulimia, is an eating disorder. It is
a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge
eating followed by intentionally doing one or more of the following in order to
compensate for the intake of the food and prevent weight gain:
vomiting
inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication
excessive exercising
Criteria For Diagnosing Bulimia:
The following six criteria must all be met for a patient to be diagnosed with
bulimia:
1) The patient feels incapable of controlling the urge to binge, even during the
binge itself; and he or she consumes a larger amount of food than a person
would normally consume at one sitting
2) The patient purges him or herself of the recent intake, resorting to vomiting,
laxatives, diuretics, exercising, etc.
3) The patient engages in such behavior occurs at least twice per week for
three months.
4) The patient is focused upon body image and the desperate desire to
appear thin.
5) The patient does not meet the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa.
(Some anorectics may demonstrate bulimic behaviours in their illness:
binge-eating and purging themselves of food on a regular or infrequent basis
at certain times during the course of their disease. Alternatively, some
individuals might switch from having anorexia to having bulimia. The mortality
rate for anorectics who practice bulimic behaviors is twice that of anorectics
who do not.)
6) The patient is of normal weight or overweight.
Please note that these diagnosis criteria are only a guide, and many
doctors will diagnose bulimia nervosa if only one is not present.
Causes:
Bulimia is often less about food, and more to do with deep psychological
issues and profound feelings of lack of control. Binge/purge episodes can be
severe, sometimes involving rapid and out of control feeding that can stop
when the sufferers "are interrupted by another person . . . or [when] their
stomach hurts from over-extension . . . This cycle may be repeated several
times a week or, in serious cases, several times a day." Sufferers can often
"use the destructive eating pattern to gain control over their lives". Source.
Patterns of Bulimic Cycles.
Consequences of Bulimia:
Electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure
Teeth erosion and cavities
Sialadenosis (salivary gland swelling)
Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing
Acid Reflux
Irritation, inflammation, and possible rupture of the esophagus
Laxative dependence
Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis
Emetic toxicity due to ipecac abuse.
Potentially death
Who becomes bulimic?
Many people think that eating disorders affect only young, upper-class White
females. It is true that most bulimics are women (90 percent of people with
bulimia are women). But bulimia affects people from all walks of life, including
males, women of color, and even older women. It was once thought that
women of color were shielded from eating disorders by their cultures, which
tend to be more accepting of different body sizes. Sadly, research shows that
as African American, Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and
Alaska Native women are more exposed to images of thin women, they also
become more likely to de
Can someone with bulimia get better?
Yes. Someone with bulimia can get better. A health care team of doctors,
nutritionists, and therapists will help the patient recover. The team will help the
patient learn healthy eating patterns and cope with her or his thoughts and
feelings.
Different types of therapy have worked to help people with bulimia. These may
include individual, group, or family therapy. Some medicines, including ones
used to treat depression, have been shown to be effective when used with
therapy.
Can women who had bulimia in the past still get pregnant?
When a woman has active bulimia, she may not get her period every month or
it may stop altogether. If this happens, she usually does not ovulate. This
makes it hard to get pregnant. Women who have had bulimia have a better
chance of getting pregnant after they have recovered. If you're having a hard
time getting pregnant, see your doctor.
What should I do if I think someone I know has bulimia?
If someone you know is showing signs of bulimia, you may be able to help.
Set a time to talk. Set aside a time to talk privately with your friend. Make sure
you talk in a quiet place where you won't be distracted.
Tell your friend about your concerns. Be honest. Tell your friend about your
worries about her or his not eating or over exercising. Tell your friend you are
concerned and that you think these things may be a sign of a problem that
needs professional help.
Ask your friend to talk to a professional. Your friend can talk to a counselor or
doctor who knows about eating issues. Offer to help your friend find a
counselor or doctor and make an appointment, and offer to go with her or him
to the appointment.
Avoid conflicts. If your friend won't admit that she or he has a problem, don't
push. Be sure to tell your friend you are always there to listen if he or she
wants to talk.
Don't place shame, blame, or guilt on your friend. Don't say, "You just need to
eat." Instead, say things like, "I'm concerned about you because you won't eat
breakfast or lunch." Or, "It makes me afraid to hear you throwing up."
Don't give simple solutions. Don't say, "If you'd just stop, then things would be
fine!"
Let your friend know that you will always be there no matter what.
Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known as bulimia, is an eating disorder. It is
a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge
eating followed by intentionally doing one or more of the following in order to
compensate for the intake of the food and prevent weight gain:
vomiting
inappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication
excessive exercising
Criteria For Diagnosing Bulimia:
The following six criteria must all be met for a patient to be diagnosed with
bulimia:
1) The patient feels incapable of controlling the urge to binge, even during the
binge itself; and he or she consumes a larger amount of food than a person
would normally consume at one sitting
2) The patient purges him or herself of the recent intake, resorting to vomiting,
laxatives, diuretics, exercising, etc.
3) The patient engages in such behavior occurs at least twice per week for
three months.
4) The patient is focused upon body image and the desperate desire to
appear thin.
5) The patient does not meet the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa.
(Some anorectics may demonstrate bulimic behaviours in their illness:
binge-eating and purging themselves of food on a regular or infrequent basis
at certain times during the course of their disease. Alternatively, some
individuals might switch from having anorexia to having bulimia. The mortality
rate for anorectics who practice bulimic behaviors is twice that of anorectics
who do not.)
6) The patient is of normal weight or overweight.
Please note that these diagnosis criteria are only a guide, and many
doctors will diagnose bulimia nervosa if only one is not present.
Causes:
Bulimia is often less about food, and more to do with deep psychological
issues and profound feelings of lack of control. Binge/purge episodes can be
severe, sometimes involving rapid and out of control feeding that can stop
when the sufferers "are interrupted by another person . . . or [when] their
stomach hurts from over-extension . . . This cycle may be repeated several
times a week or, in serious cases, several times a day." Sufferers can often
"use the destructive eating pattern to gain control over their lives". Source.
Patterns of Bulimic Cycles.
Consequences of Bulimia:
Electrolyte imbalance, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure
Teeth erosion and cavities
Sialadenosis (salivary gland swelling)
Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing
Acid Reflux
Irritation, inflammation, and possible rupture of the esophagus
Laxative dependence
Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis
Emetic toxicity due to ipecac abuse.
Potentially death
Who becomes bulimic?
Many people think that eating disorders affect only young, upper-class White
females. It is true that most bulimics are women (90 percent of people with
bulimia are women). But bulimia affects people from all walks of life, including
males, women of color, and even older women. It was once thought that
women of color were shielded from eating disorders by their cultures, which
tend to be more accepting of different body sizes. Sadly, research shows that
as African American, Latina, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian and
Alaska Native women are more exposed to images of thin women, they also
become more likely to de
Can someone with bulimia get better?
Yes. Someone with bulimia can get better. A health care team of doctors,
nutritionists, and therapists will help the patient recover. The team will help the
patient learn healthy eating patterns and cope with her or his thoughts and
feelings.
Different types of therapy have worked to help people with bulimia. These may
include individual, group, or family therapy. Some medicines, including ones
used to treat depression, have been shown to be effective when used with
therapy.
Can women who had bulimia in the past still get pregnant?
When a woman has active bulimia, she may not get her period every month or
it may stop altogether. If this happens, she usually does not ovulate. This
makes it hard to get pregnant. Women who have had bulimia have a better
chance of getting pregnant after they have recovered. If you're having a hard
time getting pregnant, see your doctor.
What should I do if I think someone I know has bulimia?
If someone you know is showing signs of bulimia, you may be able to help.
Set a time to talk. Set aside a time to talk privately with your friend. Make sure
you talk in a quiet place where you won't be distracted.
Tell your friend about your concerns. Be honest. Tell your friend about your
worries about her or his not eating or over exercising. Tell your friend you are
concerned and that you think these things may be a sign of a problem that
needs professional help.
Ask your friend to talk to a professional. Your friend can talk to a counselor or
doctor who knows about eating issues. Offer to help your friend find a
counselor or doctor and make an appointment, and offer to go with her or him
to the appointment.
Avoid conflicts. If your friend won't admit that she or he has a problem, don't
push. Be sure to tell your friend you are always there to listen if he or she
wants to talk.
Don't place shame, blame, or guilt on your friend. Don't say, "You just need to
eat." Instead, say things like, "I'm concerned about you because you won't eat
breakfast or lunch." Or, "It makes me afraid to hear you throwing up."
Don't give simple solutions. Don't say, "If you'd just stop, then things would be
fine!"
Let your friend know that you will always be there no matter what.
| The information provided on these pages are intended as a educational public service. New studies often change our understanding of how to diagnose and treat these illnesses and direct contact with the appropriate, licensed mental health professional prior to treatment is always recommended. |
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