Bulimia

About bulimia nervosa

There are many eating disorders that can affect the health of an individual. Some of those eating problems can include binge eating, overeating, anorexia or bulimia. Specifically, bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder in which the individual feels a sense of shame over their eating, and to address this shame they force themselves to vomit, use laxatives, or both.

Causes of Bulimia

One of the main causes of bulimia is genetic. In other words, they may inherit this disorder from a parent or other relatives. In addition, recent studies have indicated that one of the causes of this disorder is an abnormal amount of serotonin being produced by the brain.

Other factors that can contribute to an individual experiencing this type of abnormal eating behavior are various conventions within society. If a culture idealizes the body to the extent that any excess weight is considered abnormal, then an individual may subscribe to this philosophy and ultimately endorse and perpetuate this disorder. It's important to know that there are many individuals, bulimics or others, who will encourage those demonstrating this condition. These pro bulimia sources include websites and individuals who offer tips on how to hide the condition or tips on inducing vomiting.

Symptoms of Bulimia

There are many symptoms associated with bulimia. Obviously, the first warning sign that an individual may be bulimic is an abnormal loss of body weight, but this can be hard to detect, as they have a tendency to hide this practice from others. Someone who has eating problems will display certain physical signs, including tiredness, pain in the abdomen and general malaise.

As with all types of eating disorders, for the individual suffering from bulimia it is important to obtain medical bulimia treatment. Generally, the medical treatment incorporates two phases. The first phase is to address any physical issues that may have occurred from this disorder; the second is that the individual begins to eat regularly and receives proper nutrients and vitamins.

Mental health treatment is also necessary. This is important because bulimia is a mental disorder, and treatment should focus on changing the patient's thinking and eating patterns. As part of the treatment, the individual undergoes therapy, which can include individual, group and family therapy.