General Information About Bulimia Nervosa
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the consumption of an excessive amount of food in a very short time with a feeling of loss of control, followed by feeling guilty and resorting to unhealthy ways (vomiting, diuretic pills) to expel these calories from the body.
Anorexia patients completely refuse to eat and are extremely thin. Bulimia patients, on the other hand, eat secretly and a lot, then vomit; therefore, their weight is usually within or close to normal limits, which makes it easier for them to hide the disease.
The society-imposed 'ideal body' beauty perception, intense desire to lose weight, perfectionism, low self-esteem, domestic violence, or childhood traumas form the psychological basis of the disease.
Stomach acid coming into the mouth due to constant vomiting erodes tooth enamel. Chronic irritation in the throat, swelling in the salivary glands (chipmunk cheeks), and most dangerously, heart rhythm disorders due to fluid-electrolyte imbalance occur.
Diagnosis can be difficult because the person usually hides the illness. The diagnosis is made through a detailed clinical interview by a psychiatrist and evaluating the frequency of the patient's eating/vomiting episodes.
Psychological treatment is essential. With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the patient's unhealthy relationship with their body and food is corrected. Antidepressant medications are added to the treatment to reduce the urge to vomit and depression.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
