BULIMIA NERVOSA DISORDER

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder in which someone is preoccupied with food. Someone with bulimia goes through periods of binging and purging. They will consume large amounts of food to a point of uncomfortable fullness and then proceed to vomit what they have previously eaten through self-induced vomiting, or through the use of laxatives and diuretics.

Women make up a greater percentage of those with bulimia than men do, about 90%, but this disorder has no borders. It affects people from all walks of life. This disorder tends to have a later onset than anorexia. Most people who develop bulimia develop it between the ages of 10 and 25. Bulimia affects 10% of college students in the U.S. today.

Signs of Bulimia Bulimia maybe harder to detect than other eating disorders. Someone suffering from bulimia may be a normal weight, underweight, or overweight.
  1. Swollen cheeks or jaw
  2. Dehydration
  3. Binge eating
  4. Calluses or sores on knuckles
  5. Going frequently to the bathroom after meals
  6. Misuse of diuretics, laxatives or enemas
  7. Stomach problems
  8. Feels out-of-control when eating
  9. Secretive about eating, or hides food
  10. Broken blood vessels in the eyes
Causes of Bulimia A variety of factors can contribute to the onset of bulimia.
  • Psychological factors common in those with bulimia include low self-esteem, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
  • The interpersonal environment of an individual plays a large role in affecting an eating disorder. An unstable relationship between various members of the family, as well as a history of physical, verbal, and/or sexual abuse, can be sources of stress in the home.
  • The presence of a family member with history of an eating disorder also can play a role in the onset of bulimia. Biological make-up of a person may also affect his or her chances of developing bulimia. There is some evidence that the brain chemical, serotonin, may have an impact in those who develop bulimia, as serotonin helps to regulates food intake.
  • Also, culture greatly affects susceptibility to this disorder. In Western society today, thinness is an obsession. It is often promoted that the definition of beauty and success is a perfect body.
Effects of Bulimia Bulimia has many serious medical complications that arise as the disorder progresses. Some effects of bulimia are:

Physical Effects
  • Irregular heart rhythms, heart failure
  • Dry skin, callused or sore knuckles
  • Sore, swollen cheeks
  • Increase in cavities, tooth enamel loss, gum disease
  • Stomach ulcers
  • Rupturing of the esophagus, soreness
  • For women, irregular periods
  • Complications of the intestines
  • Dependency on laxatives

Emotional Effects
  • Depression
  • Fluctuating emotions
  • Feelings of anxiety
  • Poor self-image
  • Feeling out-of-control
  • Isolating oneself from others

Information from the CASA PALMERA Treatment Center in Del Mar, California






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