Bulimia is a disorder of impulse control associated with a distortion of body image as evidenced by bingeing followed by periods of fasting as compensation. It is frequently associated with psychiatric disorders but their mortality is lower than in anorexia.
1. What is bulimia?
It is a mental disorder related to food. The patients have episodes of binge eating, followed by a deep sense of guilt, even led to the vómoto and / or taking diuretics and / or laxatives. Usually alternate with periods of fasting or very low food intake, but soon returned to have episodes of binge eating.
2. Causes of Bulimia
It shares many of its causes with anorexia. There is a genetic basis and often have a family history, especially maternal obesity or overweight. There altering substances called neurotransmitters in the brain, and it is believed that substances such as norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin influence the disease.
3. Who is affected?
Sex: It affects mainly women, but also occurs in males.
Age: While it may appear at any age, occurs more frequently in adults.
4. How it manifests
Occur binges, that to be labeled as such illness must be at least two a week over a period of two months or more. These episodes occur in the bulimic sense of guilt and anxiety, leading to a state of psychological discomfort that in turn triggers voracious hunger.
The patient experiences a sense of losing control of his actions during the episodes. Are added or alternating episodes of self-provocation of vomiting, taking laxatives or diuretics, diets with very few calories or prolonged fasting. In turn, these behaviors trigger a sensation of hunger and anxiety that leads to bulimic episodes of binge eating.
5. What is the bulimic?
Female. Bulimia, like anorexia, affects women. People affected by this disease have an obsessive interest in weight and body size. Impulsive people are very vulnerable to the opinions of others and low self-esteem. Although it is thought that this is caused by the disease rather than join his cause.
Episodes occur in the bulimic binge guilt and anxiety, leading to a state of psychological discomfort that in turn triggers voracious hunger. Add to this the anxiety about hunger by periods of fasting or eating very little. These patients have emotional lability, which is manifested by crying or laughing disproportionate to a particular situation.
They are people with difficulty controlling their impulses so often associated with his conduct lies, theft, sexual promiscuity, drug toxic (snuff, drugs, alcohol …) and even suicide. The lack of control and anxiety lead to feelings of guilt and worthlessness that reinforce anxiety and cause depression.
His personal relationships are unstable, varying often from friends or partner. So is their relations, often tend to change jobs or occupations. The 50-90% suffer from personality disorders, especially borderline and hysterical. Women tend to practice gymnastics or dance and boys, boxing, wrestling or weightlifting.
Binge eating often triggered by stress and negative moods. But the ravenous hunger that causes organic changes due to the lack of glucose by fasting, laxatives or very low calorie diets, or excessive insulin food irregularities.
6. The role of family
It has been observed in families of bulimics its members often perceive the family environment as hostile, disorganized and conflicted. It is difficult to know whether this is a cause or a consequence of the disease.
What one has noted is that a high proportion of first-degree relatives of bulimics suffer from mood disorders, eating disorders, alcohol abuse or toxic.
7. Forecast
Mortality is less than in anorexia, not exceeding 1-2%. Half of the patients healed completely after ten years. One quarter remains with a more mild and 20% still maintain bulimia.
8. Treatment of Bulimia
The treatment is complex and must be initiated on several fronts. On one hand we need a psychological treatment designed to reduce distortion of body image dissatisfaction and anxiety. It should also improve self-esteem and self-image and resolve conflicting relationships within the family.
Furthermore, if need be held if there are psychiatric personality disorder, depression or panic attacks, anxiety or phobias. On the other hand should be removed binges and periods of fasting and taking laxatives or diuretics. Further treatment will aim to correct imbalances biological and reduce weight.