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Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that affects mostly females. It can start in early adolescence and continue into adulthood. It usually begins when the person starts thinking they are gaining weight after an eating binge even if they aren't. The person will try crash dieting and then in a weak moment will binge again. This then sets off feelings of guilt and failure. To counter these feelings the person will then find ways to either burn off the calories with excessive exercise or purge them.
When a bulimic person eats what they consider too much food they may then try to prevent weight gain by purging. Purging in done by vomiting, taking laxatives, water pills enemas and other drastic measures. The person may try fasting for days at a time to fight off the weight gain from their last binge only to get caught in the trap of bingeing again because they are starving. The use of laxatives is very common. Most bulimic over time become dependant on laxatives to the point that they need to take them in order to have a bowel movement. Abuse of ipecac is another thing that is common in bulimic patients. The constant vomiting can cause the esophagus to become irritated from the acids in the stomach and it can also cause tooth decay.
Some of the symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa are: Binge eating, feeling out of control, crash dieting, excessive exercising, laxative abuse, excessive weight changes, electrolyte imbalances, tooth decay, broken capillaries in the face, (caused by the force of vomiting) and swollen glands. Not all bulimic are thin, some are over weight.
The way to treat a bulimic patient is through psychological therapy and nutritional counseling. Depending on the severity of the condition, hospitalization may be required. Support groups for people with eating disorders available and are encouraged. With therapy and support, the bulimic person can eventually develop healthy eating patterns.
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