Bulimia: what it is, the meaning of bulimia nervosa and how to cure it
We often talk about bulimia and bulimia nervosa without knowing what it is and without knowing the true meaning of the term and what its causes are.
Unfortunately, bulimia is an eating disorder that affects 2% of women. Along with a pathological increase in appetite, bulimia is accompanied by psychological disorders. Let's find out what there is to know about this disorder, without forgetting that a balanced diet is essential for our health, and there are foods that should never be missing in our diet:
What is bulimia nervosa: the meaning of this disorder and what it entails
The woman suffering from bulimia is subject to seizures during which she takes exceptional quantities of food compulsively and in a very short time interval. The victim throws himself on everything that comes within range, without any consistency: lasagna, pizzas, biscuits, pretzels, ice cream
A bulimic person can gulp down thousands of calories in minutes, usually in secret. The episode of uncontrolled appetite can be followed by two very different reactions: there are those who, fearful of gaining weight, induce themselves to vomit and those who face obesity problems.
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The 3 stages of bulimia nervosa
Before the crisis: The bulimic person feels distressed, tense and irritable. She is assailed by a sense of emptiness and begins to frantically look for food to calm the crisis: to this end, she will not hesitate to rob the fridge and cupboard or to go out at any time of the day or night to buy something to eat.
During the crisis: the bulimic person totally loses his self-control and throws himself on foods that are generally very rich in fat and calories, swallowing them in a few minutes and without chewing. All this generally happens in secret from others: you lock yourself in the kitchen or bathroom or expect to be alone.The crisis is usually followed by severe guilt and abdominal pain. In reaction, someone vomits automatically, someone else resorts to self-induced vomiting, someone else adopts compensatory behaviors.
After the crisis: After vomiting, the bulimic person feels a sense of relief, but it is short-lived and is quickly replaced by shame and guilt. So he promises himself not to start over but is aware that he will probably repeat the same mistake very soon. In severe cases, there can be between ten and forty seizures a day.
The dangers of bulimia nervosa: what are the consequences
After a crisis, the bulimic person feels guilty and is ready to do anything to eliminate the calories taken: self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, prolonged fasting, exaggerated physical exercise.
It is very likely that you will begin to suffer from diabetes and a high level of cholesterol (linked to the abuse of sugars and fats), obesity, tooth decay (the acids from vomiting corrode tooth enamel), irregular menstrual cycles, injuries to the esophagus, dehydration (due to lack of body fluids), potassium deficiency, chronic fatigue and muscle cramps.
Furthermore, bulimia nervosa causes depression, suicidal impulses, isolation, relationship and emotional problems and substance addiction.
What are the causes of bulimia?
Bulimia is always a symptom of profound malaise and can be caused by psychological factors related to:
- Childhood: bad eating habits, jealousy towards a little brother or sister, relationship problems, absence of the mother figure and sexual abuse.
- The vision of one's body: obsessive fear of gaining weight, compensation through food, self-punishment.
- A triggering episode: the end of a relationship, the divorce of one's parents, a death, the loss of a job, stress.
How to cure bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia is a serious disease that must be treated with medical, psychological and nutritional therapy. To learn more and find the help you need, consult the Italian site on eating disorders:
www.iridsa.org/Bulimia.html
Bulimia nervosa: things to know
- Out of 100 people with bulimia, 83 are women and 17 are men.
- The number of bulimic people has doubled in less than twenty years.
- Bulimia attacks occur on average at least twice a week for three months.
- According to some studies, bulimia affects 20% of college students.
- Many celebrities suffer or have suffered from bulimia: Amy Winehouse, Elton John, Britney Spears, Alanis Morissette, Princess Diana.
- If you don't suffer from bulimia, but you still tend to binge between meals, here are some hunger-breaking foods recommended for nervous hunger:
