Bulimia

BULIMIA

What Is Bulimia?

Bulimia, or to give its full title Bulimia nervosa is one of a group of disorders known as Eating Disorders. It basically exists when a person repeatedly has bouts of eating too much (known as 'binging'), has a massive fear of getting fat, and is obsessed with controlling their weight.

In order to control their weight Bulimia sufferers often resort to exteme measures to ensure they don't get fat.

They may do things such as:

Regularly make themselves sick (vomit);
Take lots of laxatives or diuretics (medicines that make you go to the toilet more often). These are usually given to people who are constipated, or who need to urinate more frequently.
Take lots of drugs that make you less hungry (called appetite suppressants), or burn up food faster (sometimes called thyroid preparations).

Although you might expect people with Bulimia to look thin, they usually aren't, and have a relatively normal weight.

Also, they may have had a history of Anorexia, but not always.

How Many People Suffer From Bulimia?

There don't seem to be any precise figures around, but most experts reckon that between 1 in 100 and 1 in 50 people suffer from it in the UK and US. Some research has even put the numbers at 1 in 10!

Women are much more likely to suffer from it than men, although it is wrong to assume that no men suffer from it at all. One famous example of a Bulimia sufferer was Princess Diana.

When Does It Start?

Bulimia usually starts when a person is a teenager. Although it is not uncommon for people in their 20's to develop it, and cases of children as young as 8 have been reported.

How Do You Tell If Somebody Has Got It?

Officially only a doctor can diagnose it. Just because someone is on a diet, or has been eating a lot recently doesn't mean that they have it. However, often close friends and family members have an idea that something is not quite right even though sufferers sometimes go to great lengths to hide their condition.

For example, they will very rarely confide to even their closest friends that they have a problem, and will often be sick or take laxatives somewhere they will not be observed. People that take lots of laxatives will usually hide them away, so that even their partner doesn't know they have them.

Other signs may be sufferers becoming anxious and/or depressed, having difficulties concentrating, beginning to lose touch with their friends and stay in more often, exercising too much, weighing and examining themselves a lot, or using laxatives.

Is It Serious?

YES

Although not as life-threatening as Anorexia, Bulimia can have some very nasty consequences for those people that have it.

Repeatedly making yourself sick (vomiting) can lead to low levels of essential salts in the body. This can lead to death, and also causes weakness in the muscles, kidney problems, and heart problems.

We haven't finished there. People can also suffer from more infections, having fits (epilepsy), and also swelling of the persons face. Acid from the stomach also rots peoples' teeth away (usually the front ones), and if the person usually sticks their fingers down their throat in order to be sick, they develop calluses (areas of hard skin) on the back of their hand. This is known as 'Russell's sign', and is usually a dead givaway in spotting a long-term sufferer of Bulimia.

What's The Difference Between Anorexia And Bulimia?

The main difference is that people who suffer from Anorexia nervosa are massively under-weight, and in women, have period problems. For more details see our Anorexia page.

What Causes It?

One interesting fact about Bulimia is that is is relatively unheared of in non-Western countries (e.g. Africa). Therefore, although there has been research that links genetic and physical factors to it, it is more likely to be linked to the society in which the person lives. We'd probably all agree that in the Western world a lot of attention is paid to how we look, and in particular, how much we weigh. Loads and loads of people go on diets, and fashion, newspapers, and television all seem to tell us that you have to be thin to be beautiful.

However, what sets apart many people with Bulimia (and Anorexia for that matter), is that they take it much more seriously than most of us. To the extent that they often end up damaging their bodies; and don't be fooled, people with Bulimia usually are aware of the risks that they run, it's just that they are prepared to take those risks in order to keep their weight in check (as they see it).

Also, some people with Bulimia have said that controlling their weight gives them a feeling of control over their bodies and their lives. This is very important if the person feels they have little or no control. These feelings are common in people who have suffered physical, mental, or sexual abuse. Indeed, many people who have been abused go on to develop and eating disorder such as Bulimia.

Other signs that a person may be likely to develop Bulimia are:

If they have a history of problems with eating, either actually having had Anorexia in the past, or being fat.
If they have established problems with their moods.
If they are over-users of drugs that affect their mind (either illegal or prescription).
Or if they have aspects of a condition known as Borderline Personality Disorder (see Personality Disorder).

What Treatments Work?

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy, is probably among the most effective forms of psychological treatment in the short term. Other forms of therapy such as Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy may also be effective in the long term. The important thing to remember is that the condition rarely improves unless some attempt is made to tackle the underlying feelings the person has about themselves, their bodies, and their control over eating.

Anti-Depressant medication such as prozac is often prescribed by a doctor, and usually at higher than the typical amount. Most Bulimia is treated out of hospital, however their are four situations where hospital treatment is required :

If the sufferer is too depressed to cope with everyday life or is at risk of suicide.
If the sufferer is physically too unwell.
If out of hospital treatment hasn't worked.
If they are in the early stages of pregnancy, because there is an increased risk of having a spontaneous abortion.

Finally, remember that people can recover from Bulimia, but it is difficult to treat and is often a very difficult journey both for the sufferer, and for their family and friends, and may last for many years. Like most mental illnesses it is very hard to understand from a rational point of view, and can be ignored for relatively long periods of time. If you have concerns about yourself or someone close to you please try to get along to a doctor or another health professional. This is a condition that can have very serious consequences.

* RECOMMENDED BOOKS *

If you are interested in going into even more depth, the following book(s), sold by are recommended by us.

Each is followed by a rating for ease of reading (1-3).

1 = Simple and Easy to comprehend.
2 = More Complex, but still a good read.
3 = Very Complex, really for professionals/those studying to degree level.

"Clicking" On a Book will take you to Amazon where if you "Click" on the shopping basket you will be able to buy it.

How To Cope With Bulimia (Gomez)
Price £5.59
RATING = 1 One of the best books of this type around.

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