Bulimia is a severe eating disorder characterized by the uncontrolled consumption of large amounts of food, followed by emptying the stomach. Patients constantly overeat, after which they feel guilty and try to cleanse their bodies in various ways. These include enemas, inducing vomiting, and taking diuretics and laxatives. People with bulimia begin to torture themselves with heavy physical exertion and go on strict diets to reduce weight.
The main symptoms of bulimia include intermittent eating of enormous amounts of food to the point of stomach discomfort, abdominal pain, flatulence, constipation, and blood in the vomit due to irritation of the esophagus. According to Wade (2019), patients often hide the disease, but it can be guessed from some signs. These include persistent complaints of being overweight, a distorted perception of one’s body, repeatedly eating large amounts at one meal, not wanting to eat in public places and the presence of other people, and going to the bathroom or toilet immediately after eating. Artificial cleansing of the body causes complications such as dehydration caused by vomiting, which can lead to kidney failure, as well as heart rhythm disturbances, as the body loses potassium, magnesium, and other substances along with food. Other consequences are damage to the enamel of the teeth, tooth decay, gum disease, and lack of menstruation.
Wade (2019) identifies several factors that can trigger the development of the disease. Among them are a hereditary predisposition, lack of serotonin in the body, depression, and chronic stress. In turn, Lydecker and Grilo (2019) note that most often, the disease occurs in young girls aged 15-24 years, whose weight is within the normal range or slightly higher. Moreover, at risk are people with psychological problems – with low self-esteem and obsessive-compulsive states and people subject to public opinion, which is associated with forming a stereotype about the beauty of exceptionally thin people. Most patients are associated with areas that require weight control, such as gymnasts, runners, dancers, and models (Lydecker & Grilo, 2019). Thus, bulimia is a serious disease that needs mandatory treatment.
References
Lydecker, J. A., & Grilo, C. M. (2019). Food insecurity and bulimia nervosa in the United States. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52(6), 735-739.
Wade, T. D. (2019). Recent research on bulimia nervosa. Psychiatric Clinics, 42(1), 21-32.