Bulimia
Bulimia is an eating
disorder. Someone with bulimia might binge on food and then vomit (or
purging) in a cycle of binging and purging. Binge eating refers to quickly
eating large amounts of food over short periods of time. Purging involves
forced vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting in an attempt
to lose weight that might be gained from eating food or binging.
The strict definition of
bulimia is 2 binge-eating episodes a week for at least 3 months to make the
diagnosis, but symptoms may vary.
A person with bulimia
often feels a loss of control over their eating as well as guilt over their
behavior. They are usually aware that their behavior is abnormal. Bulimia is
most common in adolescent and young adult women.
Bulimia is an eating
disorder. Someone with bulimia might binge on food and then vomit (also
called purge) in a cycle of binging and purging. Binge eating refers to
quickly eating large amounts of food over short periods of time. Purging
involves forced vomiting, laxative use, excessive exercise, or fasting in an
attempt to lose weight that might be gained from eating food or binging.
The strict medical
definition used by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-IV) requires 2 binge-eating episodes a week for
at least 3 months to make the diagnosis, but it's likely that some people
with symptoms of bulimia may not fit these exact criteria.
A person with bulimia
often feels a loss of control over their eating as well as guilt over their
behavior. They are usually aware that their behavior is abnormal. Bulimia is
most common in adolescent and young adult women.
People with bulimia are
often of normal or near-normal weight, which makes them different from
people with anorexia.
Researchers have
suggested that altered levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain play a
role. Serotonin levels can be related to the development of clinical
depression.
People with bulimia will
try to hide their binging and purging behavior from others. This secrecy
often makes it difficult to identify the actual problem until a serious
complication from the physical self-abuse occurs. People with bulimia may
complain of generalized weakness, fatigue, abdominal pain, and loss of
menstrual cycles. They may even complain of vomiting or diarrhea without
revealing that it is self-induced.
A physical exam may
reveal signs of chronic binging and purging.
