Bulimia is a serious eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Signs include strange eating behaviors, frequent bathroom visits, and mood changes. Professional help is needed to overcome the disorder and its physical and emotional effects.
A bulimic is a person who suffers from an eating disorder known as bulimia nervosa or simply bulimia. It can be difficult for people to recognize that they have an eating disorder, and it is often up to close friends and family members to raise the possibility of an eating disorder. A person could be bulimic if they show certain signs, but it can be difficult to determine because many people successfully hide their condition.
If a person is bulimic, they tend to eat a large amount of food in a short period of time. Sometimes referred to as “binges,” these eating episodes are usually followed by feelings of guilt, leading the sufferer to immediately forcibly expel the food to prevent weight gain. Those suffering from bulimia can induce vomiting almost immediately after eating or abusing laxatives. This pattern of behavior becomes a vicious circle that is extremely difficult to break.
When a person is bulimic, they suffer from both emotional and physical discomforts. Like many other eating disorders, bulimia is often triggered by negative emotions including sadness, depression, loneliness and feelings of inadequacy. These particular feelings can trigger a binge, but then the guilt takes over causing an individual to have intense fears of gaining weight.
Physically, a person can experience internal damage to the esophagus, stomach, and digestive tract. Outwardly, they may suffer from swelling and tooth enamel is damaged by frequent vomiting. Dehydration, anemia, and heart problems are all conditions that can result from bulimia. Bulimia can also have very negative effects on reproductive health.
Telltale signs of the disorder include excessive weight loss measures that don’t appear to include diet such as pills and excessive exercise. The person will often have eating behaviors that seem strange, frequent visits to the bathroom, and a change in mood and vitality. While some individuals show no weight loss, many become too thin very quickly.
If you suspect you’re bulimic or believe someone you know has an eating disorder, there’s help. Professional intervention is needed to break both the psychological and physical habits that trigger the destructive behavior. A doctor or psychologist who specializes in eating disorders can help break through the suffering that bulimics endure. However, acknowledging the problem is the first step towards overcoming any eating disorder. A doctor will keep your condition private and work with you to regain healthy control of your eating habits and body.
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