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What are the Symptoms of Bulimia?
Bulimia is an eating disorder. People with bulimia
usually have a normal weight, but perceive themselves to be
fat. Or they may feel intense guilt or self-disgust when they
eat. These feelings are so strong that people with bulimia
throw up much of the food they eat. Though men and women both
can develop bulimia, 90 percent of people with bulimia are
women. For most, bulimia begins in the teens, a few years
after puberty begins. Many people with bulimia are perfectionists
or overachievers.
Bulimia is identified by two characteristic
behaviors: bingeing and purging. In a binge, a person eats
more than 1,000 calories, which is close to half the number
of calories a typical person needs in a day. But to a person
with bulimia, a binge may be eating a piece of cake. People
with bulimia often binge on comfort foods like potato chips,
cake, or cookies. But after eating the food, the person is
filled with guilt and shame. The person with bulimia then
purges him or herself by inducing vomiting, excessively exercising,
or by using laxatives.
A person in a binge-and-purge cycle will eat
lots of food at one time. A binge may be secret or planned.
It could begin suddenly, cascading just from a bite of food.
Some people binge once a day; others may binge several times
a day. After eating, a person with bulimia will often go to
the bathroom for several minutes to vomit up the food. He
or she might abuse laxatives or diuretics, or exercise constantly.
A person with bulimia is overly concerned about weight and
appearance.
Constant vomiting burns the esophagus, mouth,
and teeth with stomach acid. Many people with bulimia have
symptoms like gum infections, heartburn, or swollen salivary
glands from the stomach acid. Their teeth lose some of their
enamel or get cavities. People with bulimia may also be constipated.
Bingeing and purging is not healthy, and, as
a result, many people with bulimia are malnourished. They
may be dehydrated and have low electrolytes. Many people with
bulimia have dry skin and brittle nails. Most seriously, when
blood potassium levels drop severely, can prove fatal. Bulimia
may also be tied to self-esteem problems, stress, or depression.
Bulimia is completely treatable, but requires professional
help and support to break the bingeing-and-purging cycles.
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About the Author:
Thomas Morva
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Morva
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