Bulimia, also known as bulimia nervosa, consists of binge eating by the patient and then performing activities that are to avoid weight gain. For fear of an extra kilo, they provoke vomiting, take laxatives or do enemas. It also happens that patients begin to play sports with excessive intensity, regularly leading to exhaustion.
Bulimia symptoms
Women most often suffer from bulimia. This disease often occurs with depression and in extreme cases can lead to suicide attempts. Sick people take food in secret from loved ones, which causes them to feel guilty. At the same time, vomiting and other attempts to avoid weight gain give bulimics a sense of relief.
This disease is usually accompanied by symptoms that are a consequence of nutrient loss along with returned foods. This means that the diagnosis of bulimia can be facilitated by some symptoms, e.g. broken nails, a change in skin tone, hair loss, and swelling of the hands and feet. In addition, bulimics tend to behave such as excessive weight and beauty, and excessive focus on nutrition issues.
Bulimia treatment
Treatment of bulimia should be tailored to the individual characteristics of the patient - the severity of the disease and the general mental state. The basis is often behavioral therapy, which aims to change the false pattern of the patient's thinking about his body.
In more difficult cases psychiatric help and the inclusion of antidepressants may be necessary. The support of family and friends is of great importance in the treatment process. Consultation with a dietitian is also part of the therapy , which helps to create a balanced diet rich in nutrients.
