BULIMIA

The hallmarks of bulimia are bingeing and purging. 85% to 90% of bulimics are female, although anyone can get it at anytime. Bulimia often strikes in the teen and young adult years. Social pressures to be thin, stressful life events, biology, culture and habits with family are factors that play a role. The good news is treatment can stop the cycle of bingeing and purging. Bulimics eat large amounts of food very quickly. Then to compensate, they throw up, take pills to have a bowel movement(laxatives), or exercise excessively. Bingeing and purging can happen many times in a single day or a few times a week. People keep their illness a secret out of shame. They feel out of control when bingeing. People with bulimia are usually at a normal weight or just slightly overweight, unlike with anorexia. The are deeply afraid of gaining weight. Those with normal body weight and size, may believe they are terribly fat. This is called distorted body image. In order to lose weight, some abuse diet pills. Bulimia is more than just a problem with food. It is an attempt to control negative feelings. It is common for bulimics to struggle with substance abuse, anxiety or depression. Some may be irritable and moody. They may withdraw from family and friends. Other symptoms of bulimia are chronic sore throat, worn tooth enamel, heartburn, irregular periods, dehydration, swollen salivary glands in the cheeks or constipation and other digestive problems. Also, out-of-balance blood minerals(electrolytes), which can lead to heart problems. The doctor will ask about a history of bingeing and purging to make a diagnosis. It is tough sometimes to diagnose bulimia and get people proper treatment because many deny and hide these behaviors. The earlier a person gets treatment, the more likely they are to recover completely. Don't hesitate to talk about it if you think a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder. Avoiding guilt or blame, voice your concerns respectfully. Focus on the behaviors that worry you. Encourage the person to get help. Let the person know they have your support. When a combination of therapies are tailored to the individual, the treatment for bulimia is the most successful. To help the person establish healthy eating habits and develop a better relationship with food and eating, nutritional counseling and therapy are recommended. The FDA has approved Fluoxetine to treat the symptoms of bulimia. Antidepressants, such as sertraline, that affect the chemical serotonin have also shown success in treating bulimia.