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{ What is Bulimia? }
All About Bulimia
Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder which takes place when a person eats large amounts of food at a time (binging) and then proceeds to throw up all of the food (purging). In many cases, a person with bulimia will eat and throw up food as a type of relief from emotional problems. Unfortunately, these problems can never be eliminated through eating, only covered up. The definition of this eating disorder is “hunger like an ox”.
Weight control and major stress in life are other examples of why someone may be suffering from bulimia. In some cases, those who struggle with bulimia also struggle with another type of eating disorder called anorexia. Those with anorexia however, tend to be underweight while those with bulimia are often of a normal weight, although it tends to fluctuate by a few pounds.
People with bulimia often have low self-esteem and poor body image. Unlike one popular myth states, when bulimics throw up they use a variety of methods. These methods may include self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives and diuretics, or exercise.
Signs of Bulimia
A few common signs indicating the presence of bulimia include the following:
- Out of control eating
- Pain in the stomach
- Dehydration
- Hoarding food
- Bruised or callused hands and knuckles
- Frequent change in moods
- Sore jaw
- Constant trips to the bathroom to throw up (often right after meals)
- Use of laxatives or diuretics
- Eating large amounts of food at once (binging)
- Swollen cheeks
- Problems with blood vessels in the eyes
- Eating alone
- Frequent exercise
- Low self-esteem
The problem of bulimia tends to take place before the age of 25. In most cases, women are affected by this eating disorder. In fact, about 9 out of 10 people with bulimia are women. Some argue however, that men make up a larger percentage of those with bulimia than is typically believed.