This eating disorder is also referred to as Bulimia affects mainly young females, and can take a heavy toll on patients and their families. Bulimia is a very serious disorder and can result in death.

What is Bulimia?
This is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating (uncontrolled consumption of large amounts of food), attempts to compensate for food intake by purging (self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, restrictive eating, or diuretic or laxative abuse), and persistent over concern with body weight and shape. Though it may accompany anorexia nervosa, it can occur alone.
What are some other features of bulimia?
Individuals with bulimia often have low self-esteem, negative self-thoughts, depressed feelings and a sense of shame. They may be dealing with identity problems, concerns about relationships, family problems or past sexual abuse.

Who suffers from this disorder?
The majority of individuals with bulimia are young females below the age of forty. It is estimated that up to 20 per cent of female college students suffer from bulimia. It is about four times as common as anorexia. In some Western countries up to 3 per cent of young women have bulimia nervosa.

What are the medical complications from bulimia?
Bulimia is a serious disorder and can kill its victims. The destructive process of purging can cause serious electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to heart problems and death. The disorder can also cause ulcers in the stomach and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract which can then perforate and lead to internal bleeding. Excessive induced vomiting can lead to severe dehydration.

How can you identify an individual with bulimia?
Bulimia may be hidden from others, since individuals with this disorder often look like everyone else. The binging is often secret. Most individuals with bulimia have an obsession with food and weight; they often have an intense fear of becoming fat. People with bulimia are always repeatedly dieting or vigorously excising. Family members, husbands, male partners and other relatives and friends should be aware of these features and should seek professional help for these females. Often the victims of bulimia will not seek professional help on their own. Sometimes victims do ask for help and they are dismissed by health care workers or friends as they are not obese and may look ‘normal’.

Treatment
All patients with bulimia nervosa need a multifaceted approach so that they can develop a healthy concept of food, re-learn appropriate eating practices and achieve appropriate self-image and self-esteem. This often involves psychotherapy, nutrition counseling and medications. Your family doctor will be able to give more details on various forms of therapy available.
Individuals with bulimia tend to become chronic and 20-50 per cent of patients has symptoms for at least five years despite treatment.

Conclusion
Bulimia nervosa is a syndrome of chaotic eating behaviour that involves eating binges, followed by purging in order to prevent weight gain. This is a very serious disorder that affects mainly young women and adolescents. The destructive process of purging can cause serious medical complications which can result in death. It is important that sufferers of bulimia be identified and given appropriate treatment. Although treatment may be prolonged sufferers of this disorder can be successfully treated.

Dr Brett Hodge is a Family Physician and Specialist Obstetrician/Gynaecologist with a Medical Practice in the JOHNSON BUILDING in THE VALLEY.

Dr. Brett Hodge

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News