Bulimia Nervosa an Eating disorder - Statistics, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Overview:

Bulimia is a serious psychological eating disorder also known as bulimia nervosa. It is characterized by frequent episodes of binging-eating and is then followed by inappropriate methods of weight control or purging. A person suffering from this disorder may use inappropriate methods like vomiting, fasting, excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, or even compulsive exercising to lose weight.

People who suffer from bulimia are generally very conscious about their personal appearance related to the shape and size of their bodies. They may be of normal weight or even slightly over weight at times but suffer from self–esteem issues that may lead to depression and stress. They feel the need to lose weight constantly and as a result indulge in inappropriate methods to lose the weight as mentioned above.

Binge eating is not in response to hunger usually and the person eats large amounts of food in a short period of time. Binging and purging becomes an obsession and a vicious cycle for these people who cannot control their urges and give in to feelings of guilt for their behavior. The individual experiences a short-lived sense of calmness soon after losing control and this calmness is followed by self-loathing.

It is very important to differentiate between bulimia and another eating disorder called “anorexia nervosa”. Anorexia nervosa is a disorder where people tend to “fast” and starve themselves in order to remain thin. They suffer from extreme weight loss and look very skinny. In spite of their skinny look, they somehow seem to believe that they are still overweight. They try to lose weight by any of these methods like, excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating. Whereas, in bulimia the person generally looks normal and will eat or binge on large amounts of food followed by purging that is usually done in secret. This is the reason why their condition may go undiagnosed for any lengths of time until a serious complication from the physical self-abuse occurs.

Eating disorders are typically found to be associated with certain professions that are more concerned with physical appearances, weight issues and thinness of the body. They are modeling, gymnastics, film industry, dancing, wrestling and athletics or sports.

Statistics of Bulimia

Bulimia was diagnosed independently as an eating disorder in the early 1980’s and is most commonly seen in adolescent and young adult women. Men are also equally affected by this disorder. According to statistical reports, bulimia is estimated to affect between 3% of all women in the U.S. at some point in their lifetime. About 6% of teen girls and 5% of college-aged females are believed to suffer from bulimia. Approximately 10% of identified bulimic patients are men. Bulimics are also susceptible to other compulsions, affective disorders, or addictions. 20-40% of women with bulimia also have a history of problems related to drug or alcohol use, suggesting that many affected women may have difficulties with control of behavioral impulses.

Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia

If you suspect any of your friends or family members to be suffering from bulimia then look out for warning signs that may include any of the following:

Ø Trying to lose weight using extreme measures

Ø Always looking to use the bathroom after eating (to purge) or showing signs of throwing up

Ø Using diet pills or any other drugs to urinate or have bowel movements

Ø Exercise heavily even in bad weather, injury, fatigue or sickness

Ø There may be swelling in the jaw or cheek area

Ø Their teeth may appear “clear”

Ø They suffer from depression

Ø They may act differently and spend less time with family and friends often isolating themselves and becoming more withdrawn and secretive.

Ø They may also have cuts and calluses on the back of their hands or knuckles.

The person who suffers from this disorder will be overly concerned with their weight and body shape. They may complain of generalized weakness, fatigue, loss of menstrual cycles and abdominal pain. There may even be complains of vomiting and diarrhea without the person revealing that it is self induced.

A physical examination by the doctor may reveal signs of chronic binging and purging. An oral examination may show dental cavities, loss of tooth enamel, enlarged salivary glands, and scars on the knuckles may be present as a result of chronic self-induced vomiting. The person may present with signs of dehydration, dry skin, malnutrition, swelling of the lower legs and feet, changes in hair and nails or even a loss of sensation in the hands or feet. There may also be other medical complications and long-term effects of bulimia.

A family member who suffers from such an eating disorder needs a lot of your support. You need to suggest the family member to see an eating disorder expert, although you may be faced with denial, resistance and or even anger. A doctor and or a counselor can help them to overcome the disorder.

Treatment of Bulimia:

A person suffering from bulimia presents many medical and psychological complications that are mostly considered reversible through a multidisciplinary treatment approach. The treatment usually involves counseling and behavioral therapy. It is important to carry out the treatment in the early stages of this disorder because over time the behavior patterns become more deeply ingrained and thus are harder to change. People who get early treatment have a better chance of full recovery from the disorder.

It goes without saying that support and encouragement at home from family members is very important for the successful treatment of bulimia. The person’s behavior can be monitored closely and can be helped to maintain a reasonable eating pattern. Family members can also ensure that the person continues to stay in treatment and keeps the appointments with the doctors and other therapists.

Medical treatment for bulimia can be managed by either a physician, a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist depending upon the extent of the medical complications. Any serious medical problem that is related to the eating disorder may require the person to be hospitalized . The person may require IV fluids to correct an electrolyte imbalance or even for nutrition.

Antidepressant medications prove to be beneficial in the treatment of bulimia. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is a drug that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment of choice for bulimia due to their relative safety and low incidence of side effects. Other antidepressants like MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), tricyclic antidepressants, and buspirone (Buspar) have also shown to decrease bingeing and vomiting in people suffering from bulimia.

An appropriate treatment module will address the underlying issues of control, self-perception, and family dynamics. In addition, the person can also be provided nutritional education and behavior management as a healthy alternative to weight management.

Group counseling or support groups can assist the patient in the recovery process along with individual therapy and family therapy. In group therapy, people suffering with the same disorder get together and share their stories and experiences. This therapy seems to work well for people with bulimia.

The ultimate goal for the person suffering from bulimia is to accept himself/herself and to be able to lead a healthy emotional and physical life. This may take some time, and so a positive outlook along with much effort on the part of the person affected is essential for a successful recovery.

Proud to be an Indian - Shweta's Blog

 Dear Readers, 

This blog has been written by my niece, and since I liked it so much, I am proud to publish it on my blog. 

Shweta, has a blog of her own where she writes about her unique and interesting experiences of life, much like the title of her blog "Musings of a quixotic soul". So, head on to her blog for more such stories....Read on!!

“So dad you were telling me about a certain demon” I chuckled. My father turned to me with a piercing gaze and growled “A little respect would be appreciated”. Dad (a paratrooper) had fought in five wars/insurgencies and it seemed like he was about to add to the list . “Sorry dad, you know I meant no harm, its just …… who is named Shaitan, what were his parents thinking!!” “Young lady I seemed to have faltered in teaching you manners” Reprimanded my father. “I’m sorry dad, didn’t mean any of that, please go on” “It was a cold day on November 18th 1962, Major Shaitan Singh was in charge of about 123 men at the Rezang La, a ridge overlooking the strategic Chushul plains in Ladakh……….” While dad divulged the details of the ‘battalion that committed suicide‘ my mind started wandering towards events earlier in the day.It just seemed like a few minutes minutes ago.

At the breakfast table in Leh, we had been pondering over a possible journey to Lake Pagong Tso and Kargil. Of course the idea was to do it sometime this week. But the day was just too beautiful. And once the idea had germinated, there was nothing much to do but pack up and bundle ourselves in 2 Jonagas. One for us and another for our clothes and snacks! We went to Pagong Tso, had a ride in the army patrolling boat and also tried searching for garnets on Garnet hill!! Then as we crammed ourselves into the vehicles again ,we were told to ‘positively stop by the Shaitan Memorial’. I was wondering if this was another one of those local myths. ‘One must stop to feed the stone in a temple else something real bad will happen’. Humanity as we know might perish!

“Major Shaitan Singh fought one of the bravest battles in recorded history”! That got my immediate attention. I am a sucker for such stories, can’t seem to get enough of them! “The Chinese Army attacked in 1962 at about 05:00 hrs in the morning. They were a few thousand strong. The ridge from where they planned to attack was quite strategically located above the Indian posts. The Chinese had better guns and ammunition.” “Wow, so dad the Indians were outnumbered by both men and machine?” I couldn’t help thinking that with these statistics the Chinese would have had a clean and quick victory. The name of the memorial could well be a pun, indicating the evil Chinese! I did not share this thought with my dad, lest he make me run alongside the Jonga! “Did the Chinese have any casualties at all?” I asked. Dad smirked and then continued with the story like I hadn’t interrupted at all, “Maj Shaitan Singh was aware that the chances of survival were bleak. Yet he refused to let the morale of his men go down” “But dad, if you know that you are going to die a very painful death in a matter of minutes, how can you be calm? It just doesn’t make sense!” Dad paused for a moment “Let me give you a personal example. When I was facing the enemy, thoughts of death and pain did not cross my mind. I just wanted to tell those SOB’s to go back where they came from. This was just as far as they would march….. not an inch more!” My father was clearly very emotional at the moment to have used the ‘foul‘ abbreviation! We weren’t even allowed to call each other ‘stupid‘ in sibling fights, although my sister did deserve a whole lot more!! I started to recollect the various fights that we’d have over the years. She was just so annoying!

I sensed that there were no words being spoken at the moment and hoped that it wasn’t because I had been asked a question! Dad didn’t particularly look angry, he had a faraway look in his eyes! So it wasn’t me (phew). I gave dad another few minutes as it seemed appropriate and then requested for the story again. “They had divided themselves into 3 different posts to ward off attack from three directions. Moving between posts was almost suicidal. The area was quite barren and it was impossible to take shelter from enemy fire. A full fledged gun battle broke out. It wasn’t long before the enemy realized that they had underestimated the Indians.

With every attempt they were decimated and it seemed that the dry bed was in the wake of becoming a bloody river! Meanwhile Major Shaitan Singh bravely ran from post to post urging his men to fight without fear. He soon got a message from the higher authorities that the Chinese had surrounded almost the entire camp. It was being done to block any reinforcement or supply to the Indian posts. He was told to fall back with his men immediately. Major Shaitan Singh spoke to his men and unanimously agreed to stay and fight. They had vowed never to desert their county and this was the acid test. Everyone in the Indian camp fought like someone possessed. Major Shaitan Singh got seriously injured going from post to post. He refused help to safety and instead ordered the men to go fight! When the ammunition got depleted some soldiers jumped out of the trenches for a hand to hand combat. A falling comrade always evokes a stronger feeling of hate for the enemy. More Indian soldiers jumped out of trenches when they saw friends and colleagues being shot.

Many who lay injured on the ground hurled stones. The stone hurling continued till a shower of bullets made them take their very last breadth. 109 brave men died that day and they managed to cause about a thousand Chinese casualties. That’s one Indian soldier for about 10 Chinese men. A cease fire was called on November 21st 1962. Quite a few lifeless hands still clutched stones in tight grips when their bodies were being taken away for cremation.”

Other than the sound of small stones being crunched under the tyres of the Jonga, there was silence. No one spoke a word, we all needed some time to digest this story. It was quite disturbing. I wondered if I would ever really understand what drives such men. We were safe in our beds because of people like these. I was feeling very patriotic at the moment! The Jonga’s stopped as it was time for another break. We got out still quite lost in the voices of our heads. There were gentle sloping mountains in the near horizon and we were in a valley, it was very peaceful and unimaginably beautiful. We seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. There wasn’t another soul in sight for as far as eye could see. This gorgeous land is mine I thought! Nowhere in the world would I see beauty like this.

Everything seemed perfect other than a lone boulder in the middle of the valley floor. On following my dad to the boulder I saw some stones with burn marks on them. I leaned forward to examine them and discovered that there were bullet marks and they seemed to be all around . My heart started beating faster. Could this be the place! “Dad is this where Major Shaitan and his men…” My voice trailed off as I looked up. Dad and the drivers were standing in front of a dilapidated monument (the boulder!) with their hands raised in a salute. We stood there for a while in admiration and pride. I couldn’t help the feeling of warmth rush through my body and a tear rolled down my cheek!

By - Shweta Sengupta.