Bulimia Nervosa
All the information about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this eating disorder characterized by binge-purge cycles.
Symptoms and Causes
Bulimia nervosa, commonly known simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder (ED) characterized by the consumption of large amounts of food (binges) followed by vomiting, fasting, or purging with laxatives to prevent weight gain.
People with bulimia have a distorted body image, leading to constant dissatisfaction, even when maintaining a normal weight.
Depending on the compensatory behavior after binge episodes, bulimia nervosa can be classified into two types:
- Purging bulimia: feelings of guilt after uncontrolled eating lead to vomiting or the use of laxatives or diuretics.
- Non-purging bulimia: compensatory behaviors such as excessive cardiovascular exercise or prolonged fasting are used to burn off the consumed calories.
Bulimia is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness that is difficult to overcome, especially without proper medical and psychological treatment. Recognizing the symptoms of this disorder is essential so that family and friends can detect it early, as patients often do not seek professional help on their own.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
- Distorted body image.
- Constant fear of gaining weight.
- Binge-purge cycles.
- Feelings of shame and guilt during binge episodes, which are usually carried out in secret.
- Loss of control over food intake during binges.
- Mood swings.
- Headaches.
- Fatigue.
Causes
There is no single cause of bulimia, as it typically results from a combination of factors:
- Biological: genetic predisposition, family history of eating disorders.
- Personal: low self-esteem, insecurity, impulsivity, or the onset of dieting.
- Family-related: domestic conflicts, relationship breakups, emotional losses.
- Cultural: social pressure to achieve an idealized body image.
Risk Factors
The main risk factors for bulimia nervosa are:
- Age: it usually appears during adolescence or early adulthood (around 17 or 18 years old).
- Sex: it is more common in women.
Complications
When bulimia persists over time, it can lead to the following complications:
- Dental problems.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
- Alcoholism.
- Drug abuse.
- Kidney failure.
- Heart failure.
- Social isolation.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Suicide.
Prevention
Preventing bulimia nervosa is not easy, although promoting a healthy relationship with food and fostering self-esteem from a young age can help. It is crucial to avoid placing excessive emphasis on weight or physical appearance within the family environment.
Which specialist treats bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia requires a coordinated treatment approach involving clinical psychology, psychiatry, pediatrics and its subspecialties, and digestive system.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of bulimia nervosa involves the following steps:
- Symptom assessment.
- Physical examination:
- Weight.
- Height.
- Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Blood pressure.
- Heart rate.
- Blood tests, electrocardiogram, and imaging studies to rule out other conditions.
- Psychological tests or psychoanalysis to evaluate mental health status.
Treatment
The treatment for bulimia nervosa is multidisciplinary and is usually led by a psychologist or psychiatrist. It includes:
- Recovery of lost weight, if necessary.
- Nutritional re-education.
- Individual and group psychotherapy to address the triggers of the eating disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has shown positive results in promoting healthy behaviors, while dialectical behavior therapy is effective in achieving emotional balance.
- In some cases, antidepressants may be prescribed to reduce binge episodes and address mental health concerns.
