Bulimia is a type of eating disorder. It differs from anorexia in that when bulimia people overeat, and then cause vomiting, to get rid of food eaten. In addition, drugs that have a laxative effect can be used. Most often, people suffer from bulimia, who do not want to gain excess weight, but are not able to limit themselves to high-calorie nutrition.
Symptoms of Bulimia
The main and probably the only symptom of the disease is a constant overeating. Patients eat almost always, regardless of whether they have a feeling of hunger or not. Usually the habit of chewing develops during attempts to cope with psychological problems, but over time it turns into a way of life. Doctors say that people suffering from bulimia can eat everything edible within sight, and this is done alone or secretly. Patients can specifically buy products for this purpose.
People with bulimia can eat a large amount of food in a short time, after which they feel unwell. After this, there comes a period of guilt, when the patient feels excessively thick, overweight. He begins to blame himself for overeating and, as an attempt to get rid of calories eaten, causes vomiting or drinks laxatives. Someone along with tablets trains to exhaustion or takes illegal stimulants, the main goal is to keep weight and not gain extra pounds.
Bulimia patients differ in that they have very low self-esteem, they can not really assess their physical data, they are tormented by anxiety, and guilt is a constant companion. The most difficult part is that patients rarely can assess the seriousness of the problem and do not turn to a specialist for help.
The causes of bulimia
The causes of bulimia are most often called psychological problems, including:
- low self-esteem, when the patient inspires himself that he is not slender enough, handsome;
- depression, during which food becomes a source of positive emotions and good mood;
- stressful situations.
Sometimes the cause of bulimia can be the pressure of society or family, following different diets and low-calorie nutrition systems. By the way, most often the patients admit that they began to eat a lot after the diet, which strictly limited the diet to a certain number of calories per day.
Treatment of bulimia
Basically, the family and loved ones are being treated by the patient with bulimia, since the patient himself can hide his problem for several years. To diagnose bulimia, it is sometimes enough to simply talk with the doctor and the patient, but in case of severe exhaustion, additional tests are needed to find out what health effects the disease has already caused.
In the course of treatment the patient with the help of doctors changes his gastronomic habits, attitude towards food in general. This requires psychotherapy and a proper diet, which, most often, is aimed at the patient gaining weight.
It should be remembered that bulimia has very complex consequences, among which there are problems with teeth, poor skin and hair condition, worsening of the intestine, heart disease and many others.