Eating Disorder : Bulimia

mrsaepts
Aug 18, 2022
4 min read

BY Jittanan Tirawatthaprapha, Farzana Masoh, Chalisa Kulpatniran, Chollatorn Yongyukantorn, Jidapa Piticharoenkul

Edited by Napasjutha Kongsonthana, Napai Pattamjintathumrong

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia refers to an eating disorder which entails uncontrolled episodes of overeating, also called binging, then followed by the purging of all the contents. There are many ways purging is done, such as by forced vomiting or laxatives.

Causes and Symptoms

Causes

There is no definitive cause for Bulimia, but studies show that it can be caused by environmental effects; most commonly exposure to the media. Commercials, movies, and TV shows often display body images and looks that are desirable to the general public in order to gain more profit. This in turn creates “high” and often unachievable beauty standards. Individuals—usually teens and young adults—with low self-esteem and strong desires to achieve those standards are more prevalent to have Bulimia. Existing mental disorders like depression or anxiety disorders may also be contributing factors (Mayo Clinic).

Apart from the extreme fear of weight gain and fixation on food intake, the eating disorder is also shown to be caused by genetics. Research conducted on identical twins that share all identical genes and fraternal twins that share approximately half identical genes show that the former has twice as much correlation to the disorder as the latter. Biologically related individuals such as first-degree relatives (parents, children, or siblings) in families are also more likely to develop the disorder (Berrettini).

Symptoms

Emotional symptoms and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

Bulimia is a mental health condition, and consequences are the feelings of lack of control, guilt, shame and causes negative mental health concerns that could affect patients. Individuals with eating disorders may be at risk for co-occurring conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse, self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

This causes mood swings, self-isolation, and negative thoughts about individual appearances. In severe cases, a therapy is recommended to reduce the burden of keeping the condition secret ( resulting in additional stress and anxiety).

Negative or distorted self-image
Social withdrawal
Flat mood or lack of emotion
Mood swings
Intense fear of gaining weight

Physical symptoms

Side effects of bulimia are occasionally difficult or even impossible to treat, resulting from internal organ systems in the body being affected by eating disorders. This includes “Sialadenosis”, in another term is known as swollen salivary glands. This is due to the contents of the stomach being really acidic, repeated vomiting overtime also causes tooth enamel to break down also, intestinal problems too.. Additionally, sore throat and hoarse voice damages vocal cords too.

Tooth decay
Vomiting
Inflammation or rupture of the esophagus
Bowel issues
Gastric rupture
Dehydration

Treatment

There are several treatment options available for bulimia patients. Note that the treatment plan is different for every patient, consult with your mental health professional to find the most suitable one for yourself. These are some options available:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling where the patients are able to discuss bulimia and related issues with a mental health professional.
These are some examples of psychotherapy:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

It helps regulate a patient's eating behavior by identifying the unhealthy emotions and thoughts about their own body image as well as replacing them with the healthy ones.

Family Therapy

It allows parents to understand how the disease affects their children, thus they can intervene to stop their children's unhealthy eating behaviors as well as providing support for them to regain their diet control. In addition, it also helps the family to cope with the problems that bulimia causes in children's development and the family.

Interpersonal psychotherapy

It identifies challenges in the patient's close relationships, helping them to improve their communication and problem-solving skills.

Medications

Antidepressants may be used along with psychotherapy.
The only antidepressant specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia is fluoxetine (Prozac), a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is used for depression and OCD as well, and it usually takes 4-6 weeks to work.

Nutrition education

An eating plan is designed by a dietitian for the patient to achieve healthy eating habits, avoid hunger and cravings as well as providing good nutrition for them. To overcome bulimia, it is significant for the patient to be eating regularly and not restricting their food intake.

Hospitalization

The patient may be treated in a hospital if there are any serious health complications.

Prevention

Prevention efforts are also inconclusive in the absence of a definitive cause for bulimia. However, it holds that a person's self-esteem and perception of their physical appearance are both affected by the condition. Consequently, a preventive measure that can be implemented, especially for children, is promoting healthy attitudes about food and body image (WebMD). A few ways to achieve this include having regular family meal times, focusing on a realistic self-image rather than weight, and practicing healthy habits and dieting (WebMD). Moreover, this should be done to prevent the disorder not only from its onset but also during relapse, as bulimia is a silent, fast-growing condition that is mostly unknown.

Other mental health treatments and media restrictions are also crucial alternatives. Among the most prominent causes of bulimia are anxiety and depression, which are induced by media messages such as beauty privilege and ideal body image (WebMD). As a result, the societal perception of acceptable beauty contributes to the development of the disorder in young adults who consume such media. Thus, parents need to provide guidance and emphasize the importance of focusing more on health than an ideal body type for their children (WebMd). As long as one takes care of their mental health and looks out for others, bulimia can be prevented.

References

Eating Disorder : Bulimia

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