Bulimia Nervosa: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating at specific intervals, followed by unhealthy behaviors aimed at compensating for those episodes.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating at specific intervals, followed by unhealthy behaviors aimed at compensating for those episodes. If left untreated, bulimia can lead to serious health problems.

What is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa, commonly known as bulimia, is a psychiatric eating disorder. Bulimia can lead to serious complications that threaten life.

Individuals with bulimia nervosa experience a loss of control over their eating. These patients cannot stop their urge to eat at certain intervals. As a result, they may eat excessively in one sitting and then resort to unhealthy methods to burn off those calories.

Bulimia patients may try various methods to rid themselves of the excessive calories and prevent weight gain. The most common methods include self-induced vomiting, the use of laxatives, diuretics, and weight loss pills. In addition to these, patients may also engage in excessive exercise, prolonged fasting, and following very strict and rigid diets.

Individuals with bulimia have a distorted body image and constantly think about their weight and body shape. They may have harsh and unrealistic thoughts about their bodies. Therefore, treating bulimia can be challenging. Correcting the patient’s body image, freeing them from constant weight-related thoughts, and developing healthy eating habits form the foundation of treatment.

What Are the Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa?

Symptoms and signs observed in bulimia patients include:

• Constant thoughts about weight and body shape
• Living with a fear of gaining weight
• Experiencing episodes of binge eating in one sitting
• Inability to stop eating and losing control over what is consumed during binge episodes
• Forcing oneself to vomit or engaging in excessive exercise to compensate for binge eating
• Using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics without a medical need
• Fasting for long periods between binge episodes and restricting calories
• Using products similar to herbal weight loss teas

The severity of bulimia is determined by the frequency of purging behaviors, such as vomiting or laxative use. In bulimia, this behavior typically occurs at least once a week and has been ongoing for at least three months.

If left untreated, bulimia can have negative effects on a person’s health. Therefore, individuals showing symptoms of bulimia need to seek help from a healthcare provider without delay.

Many bulimia patients fall within the normal or slightly overweight range. Thus, it may not always be easy to recognize that a person has bulimia. Due to the distortion in their body image, a bulimia patient may not be aware of their illness or may be reluctant to discuss it. A person who suspects that a loved one has bulimia cannot force them into treatment. However, they can provide support and assurance that will help the individual through this situation. If someone knows a person who:

• Constantly worries about being overweight or complains about their weight
• Holds negative thoughts about their body shape and appearance
• Engages in binge eating, particularly with foods they try to avoid
• Starts a very strict diet after binge eating
• Does not want to eat in public or in front of others
• Forces themselves to vomit during or immediately after meals
• Engages in excessive exercise
• Has injuries or scars on their hands or finger joints (due to self-induced vomiting)
• Has damage to teeth and gums
• Experiences rapid weight fluctuations
• Has swelling in their hands and feet

They can help this person receive diagnosis and treatment for bulimia.

It is essential to communicate correctly with individuals displaying one or more of the above symptoms, allowing them to express themselves. While listening to these individuals, it is important to avoid judgmental expressions. They should be given the necessary trust and support, and pressure should not be applied to seek treatment. The individual should be appropriately convinced that they need treatment and directed to a qualified healthcare facility.

What Causes Bulimia Nervosa?

The exact causes of bulimia nervosa are not yet fully understood. However, like other eating disorders, it is believed that many genetic, psychological, and environmental factors play a role in the development of the disease.

Bulimia is more commonly seen in women than in men. The disorder typically arises during adolescence and young adulthood.

Situations That Increase the Risk of Developing Bulimia:

• Biology: Individuals with first-degree relatives, such as parents or siblings, who have eating disorders have an increased risk of bulimia. This may be due to a genetic predisposition for eating disorders within families. There is also an increased likelihood of developing bulimia in individuals who were overweight during childhood.
• Psychological and Emotional Issues: Psychological or emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse are closely related to eating disorders. Individuals with bulimia may have negative thoughts about themselves. In some cases, traumatic events and environmental stress can contribute to the development of bulimia.
• Dieting: Those who are dieting, or on a regimen, have a higher risk of developing eating disorders. Many individuals with bulimia engage in strict calorie restriction between binge episodes, which can trigger further bingeing and purging episodes.

How is Bulimia Nervosa Diagnosed?

The patient’s eating behaviors are crucial in diagnosing bulimia nervosa. Noticing binge eating episodes and purging behaviors during the patient’s history-taking can assist in making a diagnosis. A physical examination is performed on the patient, and blood and urine tests are requested. To explore the patient’s thoughts about their body and weight, a psychological evaluation may be conducted. The definitive diagnosis of bulimia is made by a psychiatrist according to various international criteria.

What Symptoms Are Seen Alongside Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia can lead to various symptoms and diseases due to nutritional deficiencies and electrolyte imbalances. Commonly seen symptoms include:

• Nail brittleness
• Hair loss, dull hair
• Fatigue, weakness
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Swelling of lymph nodes
• Reflux
• Kidney diseases
• Muscle spasms
• Heart disorders
• Seizures
• Osteoporosis

How is Bulimia Nervosa Treated?

The treatment of bulimia often involves the combined use of several different methods, which enhances treatment success. One of the most important methods used in treatment is psychotherapy. Known as talk therapy, psychotherapy helps the patient overcome negative thoughts about themselves and their bodies. Through this therapy, the patient can replace harmful eating habits with healthier behaviors. It may also be beneficial for the relatives of bulimia patients to participate in psychotherapy. Family members can gain detailed knowledge about the illness through therapy and learn how to support the patient.

Antidepressants may also be used in the treatment of bulimia. They provide effective results when used alongside psychotherapy.

A nutrition plan prepared with the help of a dietitian can also help prevent harmful binge episodes and eliminate extreme calorie restrictions between binges.

Bulimia treatment often does not require hospitalization. However, patients with severe symptoms and significant health deterioration may need to be hospitalized for treatment.

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that must be treated. It would be beneficial for patients or their relatives who suspect bulimia to seek help from a qualified health center for necessary evaluations.