Bulimia Nervosa

Alexander Supertramp

What is Bulimia?

• Bulimia nervosa is a eating disorder in which a person binges on food or has regular episodes of significant overeating and feels a loss of control. The affected person then uses various methods, such as vomiting or laxative abuse to prevent weight gain.

What causes Bulimia?

• There is no exact cause for bulimia. Biological, psychological, and social factors do likely factor into why people become Bulimic.

What are symptoms of Bulimia?

Symptoms of Bulimia include

• Eating binges

• Purging (prevention of weight gain)

• Over Exercising

• Going to the restroom after meals

Physical Signs of Bulimia

• Dry Mouth• Small cuts across tops of fingers due

to self induced vomiting• Dehydration• Pimples and Rashes• Constipation• Inflammation of the throat

Treatment for Bulimia

• Support groups are the most effective way to help Bulimic patients.

• Cognitive – Behavioral therapy and diet changes are also commonly used.

• The last resort to treating Bulimia is medically. Medicine is used when other treatments have failed or the bulimia is leading to anorexia nervosa. Drugs used to treat Bulimia are usually antidepressants.

Other Treatments

• The last resort to treating Bulimia is medically. Medicine is used when other treatments have failed or the bulimia is leading to anorexia nervosa. Drugs used to treat Bulimia are usually antidepressants.

Interesting Facts

• Bulimia is most common in adolescent and young adult females.

• Bulimics are not usually underweight.

• 1 in 50 Western Females between the ages of 15 and 24 are bulimic.

• Groups rising in bulimia are minorities and low-income whites.

Famous Athletes and Celebrities with Bulimia

• Nadia Comaneci (9x gold medal gymnast)• Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice)• Kelly Clarkson (American Idol Winner)• Princess Diana (Princess of Wales)• Lady Gaga (Pop Star)• Elton John (Musician)

Death Caused By Bulimia

• Hypokalemia or low potassium is a result of purging. Hypokalemia can lead to irregular heart beat, which can cause death.

• Cardiac Arrest

• Starvation

• Suicide

Weird Stomach

• I feel either really hungry or I feel like not eating anything. I feel this way for long periods of time too.

• OR

Toilet Time

• I’ve been going to the toilet a lot after eating and when I purge.

Locus of Control

• I feel like I can’t control when I eat and how much I eat. Also, the way my body fluctuates weight wise, I feel like I can’t control myself.

Seeking Help

• I think I have a problem with how much I eat/don’t eat, but I’m too afraid to ask anybody(including my parents) for help.

Self-Esteem

• I don’t feel good about myself at all. Especially with what I’m doing to my body.

Social Factors

• I feel that if I’m skinny, people won’t like me as much. Also, its easier to go through life skinny then any other body type.

Depression

• Having Bulimia makes me feel depressed a lot because I feel like I can’t be satisfied with my body.

Drained

• My Energy levels are low because I feel sick all the time, especially when I’m on my purges.

Bad Grades

• My grades are dropping in school because I can’t concentrate because I’m so focused on my body.

Biological

• I feel like I want to blame my parents for what's happening to me. My aunt and older cousins have had Bulimia and now I have it. I don’t want my children to share the dread I have right now.