|
Bulimia Treatment: Advice
and Options
Bulimia is an eating disorder compels people to binge on food
and then purge through self-induced vomiting, diuretics or laxative abuse, or
excessive exercise. People with bulimia tend to feel guilty and disgusted about
food and fat. Even though most people with bulimia begin at normal weights, they
think of themselves as fat. Roughly 90 percent of the people with bulimia are
women, and the disorder usually begins a few years after puberty. Genetics,
social pressures, and emotional problems like depression, low self-esteem, and
extreme perfectionism contribute to bulimia's development.
Without bulimia treatment, people with bulimia become dehydrated and
malnourished. This causes mineral and vitamin deficiencies, resulting in dry
skin, nails, and hair. Many people with bulimia are constipated from laxative
abuse. Constant vomiting brings up stomach acid that irritates the throat and
mouth. Many people with bulimia have heartburn, gum infections, swollen salivary
glands, and cavities from the acid eroding tooth enamel. Without treatment, some
of side effects, like kidney failure, can become fatal. Dehydration can lower
the body's electrolyte levels, causing heart problems or even death. About 10
percent of people with bulimia will die from it.
Bulimia, however,
is completely treatable. The sooner a person begins bulimia
treatment, the sooner the recovery. Successful recovery depends on the work of
psychiatrists, doctors, dieticians, and the patient. Psychiatrists work with the
patient to break the binge-and-purge cycles and to educate the patient about
what she is doing to her body and mind. The psychiatrist and patient must
identify the triggers of a binging-and-purging episode, as well as help the
patient cope with an unhealthy body image. The patient must learn to communicate
openly and must increase his or her self-esteem. Doctors work with the patient
to treat the effects of bulimia's dehydration and malnutrition on the body. A
dietician helps the patient develop healthy eating habits.
Group therapy and support groups are also helpful for people recovering
from bulimia. Information about many support groups can be found online.
About the author:
Bulimia Info provides detailed
information about the causes, symptoms, and effects of bulimia; bulimia
treatment and recovery; the relationship between anorexia and bulimia; and
information about the "pro bulimia" viewpoint. Bulimia Info is affiliated with Original Content.
|
