They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape. We will continue throughout to update and improve the NEDC website and welcome any feedback you may have on the site. Who is Affected? Eating disorders can occur in people of all ages and genders, across all socioeconomic groups, and from any cultural background.
References 1. See also What is an Eating Disorder? Help us improve! Give us feedback! Medical complications are common in bulimia nervosa. Almost all complications are reversible with change in dysfunctional weight control habits. Without treatment, complications persist and can worsen, and can be associated with death. The complications include, but are not limited to, the following:.
Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of bulimia nervosa are not known at this time. However, early detection and intervention can reduce the severity of symptoms, enhance the process of normal growth and development, and improve the quality of life experienced by people with bulimia nervosa. Encouraging healthy eating habits and realistic attitudes toward weight and diet may also be helpful.
Moreover, having healthy adult role models who do not talk about body shape or size, dieting, fat, or losing weight is helpful.
Also, encouraging healthy eating habits and realistic attitudes toward weight and diet may be an effective preventative measure. To understand eating disorders, researchers have studied the neuroendocrine system, which is made up of a combination of the central nervous and hormonal systems.
The neuroendocrine system regulates multiple functions of the mind and body. It has been found that many of the following regulatory mechanisms may be, to some degree, disturbed in persons with eating disorders:. Many people with eating disorders also appear to suffer from anxiety and depression, and is believed that there may be a link between these two disorders.
For example: In the central nervous system, chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters control hormone production. The neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, which function abnormally in people who have depression, have been discovered to also have decreased levels in both people with bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa.
Because eating disorders tend to run in families, and female relatives are most often affected, genetic factors are believed to play a role in the disorders.
However, parents are not to blame and are not the cause of eating disorders. But, other influences, both behavioral and environmental, may also play a role. Consider these facts from the National Institute of Mental Health:. What is Bulimia Nervosa? How does bulimia affect a woman's health? Over time, bulimia can affect your body in the following ways: 5 , 7 , 8 Stomach damage from overeating Electrolyte imbalance having levels of sodium, potassium, or other minerals that are too high or too low, which can lead to heart attack or heart failure Ulcers and other damage to your throat from vomiting Irregular periods or not having periods, which can cause problems getting pregnant Tooth decay from vomiting Dehydration Problems having bowel movements or damage to the intestines from laxative abuse Long-term studies of 20 years or more show that women who had an eating disorder in the past usually reach and maintain a healthy weight after treatment.
How is bulimia diagnosed? How is bulimia treated? Treatment plans may include one or more of the following: 6 Nutrition therapy. People who purge make themselves throw up or take laxatives regularly should be treated by a doctor. Purging can cause life-threatening electrolyte imbalances. Some people with bulimia may need to be hospitalized if they have serious heart or kidney problems.
Sometimes called "talk therapy," psychotherapy is counseling to help you change harmful thoughts or behaviors. This type of therapy may focus on the importance of talking about your feelings and how they affect what you do. For example, you might talk about how stress triggers a binge. You may work one-on-one with a therapist or in a group with others who have bulimia. Nutritional counseling. A registered dietitian or counselor can help you eat in a healthier way than binging and purging.
Support groups can be helpful for some people with bulimia when added to other treatment. In support groups, girls or women and sometimes their families meet and share their stories. Some antidepressants may help girls and women with bulimia who also have depression or anxiety. How does bulimia affect pregnancy?
Bulimia can cause problems getting pregnant and during pregnancy. Bulimia can also cause problems during pregnancy. Bulimia raises your risk for: Miscarriage pregnancy loss 14 Premature birth also called preterm birth , or childbirth before 37 weeks of pregnancy Delivery by cesarean section C-section Having a low birth weight baby less than five pounds, eight ounces at birth Having a baby with a birth defect 15 Depression after the baby is born 16 postpartum depression.
If I had an eating disorder in the past, can I still get pregnant? If I take medicine to treat bulimia, can I breastfeed my baby?
Did we answer your question about bulimia? For more information about bulimia, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations: MentalHealth. Sources Smink, F. Epidemiology, course, and outcome of eating disorders. Current Opinion in Psychiatry ; 26 6 ; Marques, L. International Journal of Eating Disorders ; 44 5 : Gagne, D.
Eating disorder symptoms and weight and shape concerns in a large web-based convenience sample of women ages 50 and above: Results of the gender and body image GABI study. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 45 7 : Mehler, P.
Bulimia Nervosa — medical complications. How is bulimia diagnosed? Your doctor will use a variety of tests to diagnose bulimia. First, they will conduct a physical examination. They may also order blood or urine tests. And a psychological evaluation will help determine your relationship with food and body image. Who is most at risk of bulimia? Is bulimia inherited?
Familial and twin studies have supported a genetic predisposition to eating disorders, with significant linkage on chromosome 10p in Families with Bulimia Nervosa. A study estimated the heritability of Bulimia to be up to 60 percent, with the remaining variance attributable to the individual-specific environment. How can bulimia kill you? And it can kill. It's not just the long-term damage to a bulimic's health that can be caused by purging, eating disorders kill more people than any other mental illness in the UK.
Sufferers are more likely to commit suicide, self-harm in other ways or experience organ failure. What is Ednos?
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