| Bulimia is a more common eating disorder than | | | | Sore throat, the erosion of tooth enamel and bad |
| anorexia and often develops slightly later in life, | | | | breath caused by excessive vomiting. |
| from mid to late teens or the early twenties. | | | | Swollen salivary glands making the face round and |
| Studies suggest that between 0.5 per cent and 2 | | | | puffy. |
| per cent of young women in the UK have bulimia. | | | | Poor skin condition and possible hair loss. |
| There are two main features of bulimia. Individuals | | | | Irregular menstrual periods or loss or periods. |
| regularly binge, which involves eating a large | | | | Lethargy and tiredness. |
| amount of food in private until they feel | | | | Abdominal pain and bloating. |
| uncomfortably full. They feel they have little or no | | | | Chronic constipation and risk of bowel problems |
| control during a binge and tend to eat 'forbidden' | | | | due to laxative abuse. |
| foods with a high carbohydrate content. | | | | There are a range of very serious effects for |
| Bingeing is normally followed by intense feelings of | | | | people who continue to suffer with untreated |
| guilt and shame. To compensate for the food | | | | bulimia during a long period of time. Many people |
| consumed during a binge, the individual then uses | | | | with bulimia develop chronic dehydration, caused |
| other behaviours, such as vomiting, laxative | | | | by vomiting and the use of laxatives. This can |
| misuse or excessive exercise. This is often | | | | lead to low potassium levels, triggering a wide |
| termed as 'purging' behaviour. | | | | range of symptoms ranging from lethargy and |
| People with bulimia are locked in a regular cycling | | | | muddled thinking to potentially life-threatening |
| of bingeing and purging and usually have | | | | heart and kidney problems. Another serious |
| overwhelming feelings of shame about their eating | | | | complication of bulimia is the rupture of the |
| disorder. The frequency of the cycle varies from | | | | stomach. |
| one individual to another and there are also wide | | | | Bulimia has a lower mortality rate than anorexia. |
| variations in purging behaviour. | | | | However, very rare and extreme cases, death |
| Teenagers who have tried unsuccessfully to diet | | | | can occur due to heart failure. |
| but failed sometimes believe that this cycle of | | | | Fortunately, people with bulimia tend to want to |
| bingeing and purging will help them to lose weight | | | | overcome their eating disorders and feel less |
| successfully. But studies show people with bulimia | | | | ambivalent about change than those with |
| are often of normal body weight and if untreated, | | | | anorexia. The difficulty usually lies in seeking help, |
| over time, there tends to be weight gain rather | | | | as people with bulimia often feel profoundly |
| than weight loss. Bulimia is often associated with | | | | ashamed of their eating habits and worries that if |
| low self-esteem or a general lack of | | | | they do seek support, their problem will be |
| self-confidence. | | | | dismissed. |
| However, this cycle has a range of harmful | | | | However, studies show that people with bulimia |
| effects on the body. Some of these side-effects | | | | respond well to treatment. A form of cognitive |
| will be evident from a fairly early stage in the | | | | behavioural therapy designed for eating disorders, |
| bulimia. They can include: | | | | called CBT-E is very effective for people with |
| Frequent and major weight changes. | | | | bulimia. |
| Stretch marks. | | | | |