H E A L T H:
Bulimia
What Is It?
People with bulimia eat large amounts of food in a short amount of time. Then, because they feel depressed and guilty about what they've done, they make themselves vomit, by sticking their fingers down their throats. They may also use too many laxatives (to increase bowel movements), abuse diet pills, or go through periods of fasting (not eating at all). This cycle of binging (uncontrollable eating) and purging (vomiting) keeps repeating itself.
How Common Is It?
More common than anorexia. And as common as compulsive eating disorder. Millions of people suffer from bulimia. 4 out of every 100 college aged females has it!
Like a person with anorexia, the bulimic is afraid of being fat. Unlike the anorectic, however, the bulimic is very aware that his or her eating is out of control. Because bulimics typically maintain normal weight, they can successfully hide their problem for many years. Until they start complaining about certain medical problems:
- Sore or burning throat. Caused by stomach acid in vomit.
- Rotting teeth. Caused by stomach acid in vomit.
- Swollen salivary glands. Causes a "chipmunk" face.
- Hernias. Strained groin muscles from the effort of vomiting.
- Rectal bleeding. And other bowel problems.
- Missed menstrual periods. And other menstrual problems.
- Weakness, numbness, muscle fatigue, kidney damage, erratic heart beat, and even paralysis. Caused by lack of certain nutrients.
Like anorexia, bulimia can kill.
But what causes it?
- Family problems. Most experts believe that eating disorders come from different kinds of family problems. These teens may come from families where it just isn't okay to talk about feelings. So to please everyone, these teens put up a cheerful front, but underneath, he or she is often depressed, lonely, and ashamed of their behavior. They feel like they have a large, guilty secret that they are hiding. They often don't like themselves very much and feel they don't deserve to be happy. They don't even think they deserve to enjoy food.
If teens don't feel like they have any control over their own lives
they may use food and body weight as the only way to get control.
- Our culture. Western society is obsessed with thinness. Every day TV, movies, and magazines blast us with the message that thin is "the only way to be." Never before in history have females been encouraged to be as thin as they are today in the U.S. and other industrial countries. It's just not healthy, in fact, it's killing many of us. How thin is thin enough?
Warning Signs of Bulimia
- Frequent episodes of "binge-eating."
- A feeling of lack of control during the binge, followed by anxiety about anticipated weight gain and/or mood swings.
- Sudden disappearance of food items. (Like full jars of peanut butter or half gallons of ice cream.)
- Frequent "purging," where the person tries to undo the effects of the binge by self induced vomiting, dieting, excessive exercise, diet pills, laxatives, or diuretics (drugs which speed the elimination of fluids from the body).
- Foul smelling bathrooms
- Running water to cover the sound of vomiting
- Excessive use of mouthwash and breath mints
- Lots of dental problems. Particularly tooth decay but also gum disease.
- Rough spots or teeth marks on the hands. From sticking fingers down the throat to induce vomiting.
- Body image distortion. Despite weight loss bulimics still believe they are fat.
- Getting in trouble with the law. Because bulimics tend to do everything in excess (too much and out of control) they sometimes shoplift, abuse credit cards, alcohol, and drugs.
- Out of control sexual relationships. Sometimes including many brief, meaningless sexual encounters.
Medical Problems
If bulimia is not treated and stopped, it can lead to permanent damage to the body. Even death. Here are some common health problems caused by bulimia:
- Kidney and/or liver damage
- Tooth decay
- Gum Disease
- Rupture of the esophagus (the "food pipe")
- Bloating or swelling
- Constipation or diarrhea (Inability to have bowel movements or very frequent ones.)
- Menstrual problems (Periods become irregular or stop altogether.)
- Anemia - low red blood cell count. Those are the blood cells that circulate oxygen around your body.)
- Malnutrition
The Good News: By
admitting there is a problem and getting help,
people with eating disorders can be cured.
For more information contact
ANAD
(National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders)
Next: How To Help Someone You Care About
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