Bulimia
"A disorder
characterized by compulsive overeating followed by
vomiting."
Bulimia, from the Greek bous,
"ox"
and limos,
"hunger" means
"hunger like an ox". Nervosa, from the French
nerveux,
means
having to do with the nerves (psychological cause). Bulimia
Nervosa can therefore be defined as a great hunger caused
psychological illness".
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by
repeated episodes of binge eating and then purging to
compensate for the unwanted food in an attempt to prevent
weight gain. Binge eating commonly occurs as a response to
emotion, which is soon followed by feelings of depression
and self-loathing. During a binge the individual consumes
abnormally large amounts of food in a short period of time
with a sense of lack of control. The binge can last for
minutes or hours, consisting of all kinds of food. The
suffer knows the behaviour is not normal, and generally
attempts to hide it from others.
Purging is engaging in an attempt to rid the body of
unwanted food to prevent weight gain. Purging is most
commonly self-induced vomiting, but can take the form of
laxative abuse, diuretics, enemas, fasting or excessive
exercise. Generally, purging does not result in much weight
loss. Diuretics rid the body of water, resulting in
dehydration and essential mineral loss. Vomiting only rids
the body of some of the food ingested. Actually, the act of
vomiting causes the body to be more efficient at absorbing
calories. Laxatives work on the lower part of the large
intestine causing the loss of water and other nutrients.
Much of the food ingested has already been absorbed by the
small intestine.
Vomiting is very dangerous and harmful to ones body. As a
result of frequent vomiting, the stomach, esophagus, throat
and heart are stressed. There is a considerable loss of
sodium and potassium by any form of purging, which may lead
to muscle cramps, cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beat)
and even death.
Those suffering from bulimia often withdraw socially and
emotionally from their surroundings. Often they feel a lack
of control in many areas of their lives, not just eating.
People with bulimia are persistently concerned with their
body shape and weight, but unlike those suffering from
anorexia, they are often normal weight.
Medical Criteria for Bulimia:
• repeated episodes of binge eating with feeling of being
unable to stop eating excessive amounts of food
• some sort of purging behaviour to try to lose the weight
(vomiting, laxative abuse, fasting, excessive exercise,
etc.)
• abnormal feeling that weight is important for self-esteem
• repetition of binge eating and purging behaviour at least
twice a week for a minimum of three months
