Bulimia - The Binge-Purge Cycle - Health - http://maxpages.com/elliesownpage/Bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is usually characterized by bingeing (eating large amounts of food in a short period of time) and using behaviors- such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, obessive excersize- in attemps to rid themselves of the food they consumed. In some cases, the bulimic will not only purge the binges, but also the normal amounts of food she eats. They feel obligated to purge because of the shame and overwhelming feelings that binges often bring. In a way, they are a punishment for "eating too much."

Unlike anorectics, bulimics are usually aware that what they are doing is not normal. Bulimics are fascinated by food. Cooking, eating, reading cookbooks--anything that involves food.

Weight can not be used to determine whether or not someone is bulimic; it is the behaviors that make them bulimic. A bulimic is usually a normal weight, or slightly above average. Weight fluctuations (up to 10-15 pounds) are common because of the loss of water that purging causes.

Behavioral Signs:

Binge eating
Attemps to lose weight through self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, and excessive excersize
Fear of not being able to stop eating
Self-degrading thoughts following the binge/purge

The Binge

Binges can range in size from 1000 to 60,000 calories. Sweets are the main source of the calories during a binge. Some bulimics will only binge infrequetly, where as others lives will be consumed by bingeing. A bulimic will sometimes go from restaurant to restaurant ordering full-course meals and then finding a bathroom to purge in. The cycle will continue until they are too tired to continue. Others will go to the grocery store and buy up to $100 worth of food, take it home, and eat it all, then purge.

The Purge

After a binge, the bulimic is both physically and emotionally exhausted. She is overcome with feelings of panic and shame. In attempt to rid these feelings, the bulimic attemps to rid her body of the food. Purging can take place in many different forms, the most common being self-induced vomiting. Other forms include the mis-use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, fasting, strict diets, and compulsive excersize. The amount of purging can vary from person to person. Some binge and purge a few times a month, and others spend their days doing it.

Diagnosis Criteria:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
*eating an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
*a feeling of lack of control and shame over eating during the episode
Recurrent behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.

*Purging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas

*Non-purging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

As said in the anorexia section, it is important to remember that eating disorders are not about the diagnosis criteria, but about how the person feels.

Who is Vulnerable?

Usually, bumilima starts in adolescence and young adulthood, but some start as early as 11. The binge-purge cycle often begins at times of major milestones in life when stress is high and things seem to be overwhelming. Divorce and break-ups seem to be a common start point of bulimia.

Stats:

*Approximatlely 1 to 3 percent of adolescent and adult females develop bulimia.
*90% of all bulimics are female.

It is crucial to not try and control a bulmic. Saying things such as, "Don't you dare go in the bathroom..." after a meal can make them want to purge even more than they did in the first place. To a certain extent, the issue of control plays a part in eating disorders. They want to be in control, and the more you try to control them, the more they are going to do what they want.

Now it's time to look at ED-NOS

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

Ellie

United States

help4eds@yahoo.com

Visitors: 11465

Page Updated Sun Aug 12, 2001 11:20pm EDT