Bulimia is an eating disorder. It is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of overeating (called bingeing). This is followed by purging by self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, and other methods. Bulimia typically affects females and starts during the teenage years.
Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight. Living in fear of gaining weight. Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting. Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can't stop eating or can't control what you eat.
Individuals with bulimia nervosa are often of average weight. Because a person struggling with bulimia nervosa often looks perfectly normal, recognizing it can be difficult. However, many people struggling with bulimia nervosa recognize their behaviors are unusual and dangerous.
Over time, bulimia can cause a person to experience very serious symptoms, such as severe dehydration, organ damage, stroke, and heart attack. Some of these symptoms can be life-threatening or cause permanent damage to the body.
Some common phrases to avoid include:
Comments on how "healthy" someone looks — "You look so healthy!" or "You look unhealthy" "No one likes the look of skin and bones" "You don't look like you have an eating disorder" "I hate how my legs look"
Bulimia jaw is a term for a number of symptoms that can result from the purging aspect of bulimia nervosa (BN). It can refer to swelling, intense pain, and a misalignment of the jaw, and sometimes require surgery to correct. Further Reading. Bulimia Jaw: Pain and Swelling.
bulimia nervosa experience one or more anxiety disorders,” most commonly, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, and specific phobia [1]. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can occur up to three times more frequently in individuals with bulimia than those with anorexia [1].
Severe bulimia nervosa (BN) is defined as 8–13 binge/purge episodes per week), and extreme bulimia nervosa involves 14 or more binge/purge episodes per week. Unhealthy preoccupation with weight loss, body weight and shape; significant body image distortions.
But, it can also affect males. People with bulimia are more likely to come from families with a history of eating disorders, physical illness, and other mental health problems. Other illnesses, such as substance use disorder, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders are common in people with bulimia.
In addition to harm avoidance, individuals with bulimia nervosa are known to have a high level of novelty seeking, a personality trait that is characterized by impulsive decision making, a short temper, an extravagant approach to reward cues, avoidance of frustration and the need to seek new and exciting stimulation.
“Chipmunk Cheeks”: A Common Sign of Bulimia
One of the telltale signs of bulimia is the appearance of swollen cheeks – colloquially known as “chipmunk cheeks” – on the sides of the face. Caused by the enlargement of the parotid glands (one of the salivary glands), the medical term for this phenomenon is sialadenosis.
Erosion can drastically change the color, size and shape of your teeth. Excessive tooth erosion is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. Frequent vomiting can lead to sensitive teeth, dry mouth and red, cracked lips. All signs that your dentist is trained to recognize as side effects of bulimia.
Drinking excess amounts of water
First, water is an easy way to curb hunger pains and not intake calories while skipping meals. Second, constant purging can quickly lead to dehydration, and their body will require a lot of water to keep running properly.
The telltale oral signs of eating disorders include: Dry mouth and enlarged salivary glands. Cracked, dry lips and mouth sores.
If you have bulimia, your day may be filled with anxiety about eating and finding ways to hide it from others. Most of your day may be filled with trying not to think about food or attempting to control your urge to overeat, or binge eat. In some cases, binge eating is not about hunger.
Introduction. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health condition.
Dozens of donuts, boxes of cupcakes, multiple bags of chips, ten candy bars and multiple boxes of cookies are some common items that are consumed within this two-hour period. It is common for individuals to binge eat when they are not physically full or eat these large amounts of food until they are uncomfortably full.
Unfortunately, this is not often foolproof, as many people with bulimia nervosa will sneak and hide food to eat it in secret. With bulimia nervosa, the compulsive urge to eat and continue eating can have a harmful impact on mental health and wellbeing.
Having a social life can be difficult for people with an eating disorder. When people develop eating disorders they can become more distant and start to spend more time alone. This can make their harmful thoughts or low self-esteem worse.
Many individuals struggling with bulimia nervosa hide behind their symptoms and will do everything in their power to mask their disorder.