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Bulimia, or bulimia nervosa, is an eating disorder characterized by contrasting patterns of overeating or binge eating and great fear of weight gain.
Weight control measures are in use to keep the "normal weight" beyond the unmanageable excessive food consumption.
Thus, unhealthy practices associated to purging take effect such as vomiting after eating, abstinence, excessive workout and use of dieting pills or laxatives.
Physicians need to establish visible indications from the patients by meeting diagnosis criteria of bulimia. On the first place, bulimics undergo binge eating.
If the person displays periodic behavior of overeating by consuming larger quantities above normal food consumption of a person in preset period of time, the probability of bulimia is greater.
In the end, the person feels a feeling of guilt and disgust with excessive eating. As a result, the habits of purging take in.
Purging is displayed by excessive exercise, induced vomiting, and the abuse of laxatives and other medications to speed up metabolism.
Still, bulimics are difficult to distinguish since their binge-purging patterns are done secretly. Additionally, they may be overweight, underweight or on the average.
They look healthy and with less apparent signs of acute health problems. There are also cases that the patient is really suffering from bulimia though the exhibited behavior doesn't satisfy the diagnosis' criteria.
Regardless of age, a person may suffer from this disorder. But statistics show that this disease is more evident on teens especially the females.
Since adolescents are more conscious of their looks, they tend to evaluate their body shape from time to time. They hide their strong inclination to food by purging in order to stay in normal weight.
Early prevention is the bottom line on any disorder like bulimia. It's wiser to seek medical help if any symptom is apparent on a person.
Appropriate treatment must be given to rectify the condition such as medications and psychotherapy. As old saying goes, "it is better to be safe than sorry".
Prolonged condition of the disorder will result to a more severe health threats that can be lethal. In this regard, bulimia is a disease that calls for proper attention, both medically and psychologically.
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