According to The National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 10 million people suffer from eating disorders. With that figure at our fingertips, it seems more important than ever to learn to recognize the symptoms of bulimia.
Bulimia, diagnosed as a separate eating disorder in the 1980s, is primarily a female disease. As such, it affects about nine million females and also has found its way into the minds and lifestyles of approximately one million males.
Who Is at Risk for Becoming Bulimic?
Anyone who feels the pressure to have a perfect body is at risk. As rail-thin models and the current Hollywood "It" girls continue to be given top billing on magazines, TV, movies and the Internet, pressure to match that look is placed on every young female in the United States, and on many of the young men. Additionally, if one person in a family is bulimic, the chance of another individual from the same family becoming bulimic rises significantly. It must also be noted that bulimia has more to do with psychological issues and feelings of lack of control than it has to do with food.
While it is not known what exactly causes bulimia, it is thought to center around a genetic fault in which abnormal levels of serotonin, a chemical in the brain used during emotional stress or social pressure, is released. This abnormal release is due in part to cultural changes and stress.
Individuals who suffer from this disease are recurrent binge eaters who then purge (vomit or take laxatives) to prevent gaining weight. In the process of starving their bodies, considerable damage is done to the internal organs. While there is no medical cure for bulimia, it can be treated through counseling and behavioral therapy. Of those women who have been treated for bulimia, about 75% have had a full recovery.
Signs of Bulimia
Another sign that may be overlooked is scrapes on the knuckles and fingers, which can be caused when fingers are thrust down the throat and become scraped from being dragged across the teeth in an attempt to induce vomiting. Exhaustion and fatigue can also be signs of bulimia.
Some Health Issues
Because bulimics are often of normal weight or may even be overweight, they do not always look like they have an eating disorder or life-threatening disease. Upon closer inspection, however, it is not that difficult to recognize signs of bulimia if you know what to look for. Education is the key to catching this disease before it is too late.
 | The dangers in bulimia are many and exceed dramatic weight loss. In fact, many people with bulimia are able to maintain a normal weight. This can trick people into believing that bulimia isn't so bad, but the health risks associated with the eating disorder are quite severe. |
 | It's important for parents to recognize bulimia signs and be aware of behavior that may be covering up a serious problem. When parents have concerns about their teen, it seems the last thing they will do to get the truth is to ask their teen directly. It's the natural way that parent-child relationships progress; kids are naturally more secretive during their teenage years. |
Bulimia Nervosa is a long term disease. Recovery is often a hard and a long process with its ups and downs. That is why bulimia nervosa testimonials of recovery are interesting to read. You can always learn something interesting about how other people managed to beat this distorting body and sole disease. |
Bulimia affects the whole body. But the most obvious effects it has is on the nervous system, mental state, gastro-intestinal, cardio system, kidney, skin, bones and the hormonal system. |
There are a variety of bulimia treatment options, depending on the severity of the bulimia as well as personal preference. Many people with bulimia choose to use several forms of treatment to combat the emotional, physical and psychological parts of the disease. |
