Eating disorders such as binge eating, anorexia nervosa, and pica are all very common amongst various age groups. Bulimia Nervosa, as another example of eating disorders, causes harm to one’s health as well.
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Bulimia Nervosa, commonly known as Bulimia, is a serious and potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Continue to read to learn more about Bulimia, including its symptoms and causes.
Bulimia is characterized as episodes of binge eating. During these episodes, one does not have the ability to control his or her eating. After the binges, one often attempts to lose weight using various extreme methods such as vomiting and fasting.
The exact cause of Bulimia is unknown, but researchers believe that it is caused by various risk factors such as certain personality traits, emotions, thinking patterns, and biological and environmental factors. Research suggests that Bulimia usually starts with dissatisfaction with one’s body shape or size and fear of becoming overweight. Other factors include traumatic events, frequent dieting, stress, etc..
The symptoms of Bulimia vary, and changes in both one’s body and behavior may occur. Some of the physical symptoms of Bulimia include dental problems, sore throat, irregular periods, dizziness or fainting, dry skins, sleep problems, etc.. Besides, some behavioral symptoms such as eating uncontrollably followed by purging, skipping meals, vomiting, excessive exercising, depression or mood swings, avoiding friends, losing interests in things that are attractive to one before, etc., may occur with physical symptoms as well.
Bulimia is extremely harmful to one’s body and mental-health state, and this is also why preventing or treating it is important. In fact, not getting prompt treatment may cause serious problems such as rupture of stomach and esophagus, irregular heartbeat, self-harm behaviors, alcohol and drug misuse, etc.. Therefore, getting help from a doctor, including healthy food in one’s diet, and the support from friends and family are always important.
While the exact causes of Bulimia are hard to be decided, the ways to prevent it seem hard to be found out as well. However, some methods, such as having a regular mealtime with family, promoting a healthy and realistic body image, and focusing on healthy eating habits will surely help.
Because eating disorders may be life-threatening, learning more about them and raising awareness will be useful. Additionally, because they are so common with shocking statistics, supporting each other becomes the key to preventing eating disorders.
Written by: Benetta Wang
Sources:
Eating Disorder Hope. “About Bulimia: Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Articles For Treatment Help.” Eating Disorder Hope, 1 Oct. 2020, www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/bulimia.
“Bulimia.” WebMD, 2 Feb. 2006, www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa/mental-health-bulimia-nervosa#1.
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