Bulimia, an eating disorder
Last week I received a female patient of 12 years old with a lean and thin body. According to her mother, she eats a lot and soon after eating, she goes to the washroom and by putting her finger in her throat, she vomits all that she ate. This has been going on for a long time.
In spite of gaining weight she is losing weight day by day. Physical and laboratory findings were normal. Actually this is a typical presentation of bulimia. This is an eating disorder.
Bulimia is an illness in which a person has regular episodes of overeating (bingeing) and feels a loss of control. The person then uses different ways, such as vomiting or laxatives (purging) to prevent weight gain.
Many people with bulimia also have anorexia nervosa. Many more women than men have bulimia. The disorder is most common in adolescent girls and young women. The person usually knows that her eating pattern is abnormal and may feel fear or guilt with the binge-purge episodes.
The exact cause of bulimia is unknown. Genetic, psychological, trauma, family, society, or cultural factors may play a role. Bulimia is likely due to more than one factor. In bulimia, insensible over eating is common following vomiting by putting fingers in the throat to avoid over weight.
People with bulimia are often at normal weight, but they may see themselves as being overweight. Because the person's weight is often normal, other people may not notice this eating disorder.
Bulimia cases usually do not require hospital admission but reassurance, psychotherapy, family and friends support is important to recover from the situation. Sometimes antidepressant drugs are prescribed.
Complications may be constipation, dehydration, dental cavities, electrolyte imbalances, hemorrhoids, pancreatitis, swelling of the throat, tears/ruptures of the esophagus from excessive vomiting etc.
Over conscious and concerned girls do think they are gaining weight and becoming ugly so they start unusual dieting. In bulimia the feeling is the same. They eat a lot and to avoid weight gain they induce vomiting. This vicious cycle of over eating and vomiting in the long run creates serious health problems. Nothing unusual is good for health.
The author works at Community Based Medical College, Mymensingh. E mail: [email protected]
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