Bulimia nervosa, which is commonly known as Bulimia, is a kind of eating disorder. A person suffering from this disease has a fear of becoming overweight. Usually, a person suffering from this disease will overeat and will then suffer from depression, guilt and even self condemnation.

The person will then take up compensatory measures in order to make up for their excessive eating. The different compensatory measures include over exercising, fasting, vomiting, and use of laxatives, diuretics, enemas or other medicines. Bulimia can occur to a person of any age. But most commonly it occurs to a person in his/ her teens. However, researches have shown that this disease is more prevalent in women in comparison to men.

Bulimia Causes

Bulimia is mainly caused because of different psychological problems and also because of the lack of control in a person suffering from this disease. A person suffering from this disease will overeat when stressed or depressed. They overeat in order to feel that they have a control on their life.

However, in order to overcome stress they lose control on the amount of food they consume. A person who is suffering from this problem for a prolonged period will have no control on his/ her over eating and over exercising. The person gets addicted to over eating and cannot overcome it. The main cause of Bulimia is thus considered to be over eating which may be because of psychological issues like depression or stress.

Bulimia Symptoms

The main symptom of Bulimia is over eating. Another symptom of Bulimia is the use of excessive laxative. A common symptom of Bulimia in case of women is the irregularity or the stop of period as well as the presence of calluses in the finger of the person.

Tooth decay as well as the occurrence of sore throat are other common symptoms. A major symptom of this disease is bad breath as well as stomach disorder. Mouth ulcers, dehydration and malnutrition are other characteristic features associated with this disease. The other symptoms of this disease are the damage of the voice and hyponatremia.

Peptic ulcer and gastric rupture, the swelling of the salivary glands and the erosion of the teeth are other symptoms which characterise the disease. Apart from these the esophageal reflux, swelling of the cheek, face and lower eyelids and anaemia are the other features which are commonly associated with the disease.

This disease is often associated with brittle nails, hair, and skin. High pressure and problems of the kidney as well as bowel problem are other symptoms which are associated with the disease. Besides, another important symptom of this disease is deficiency of minerals. However, it can be said without doubt that the most important symptom of this disease is depression.

Types of Bulimia

Bulimia is of two types-purging type and non-purging type. The most common type of Bulimia is the purging type of Bulimia. People suffering from this disease use laxatives, enemas, diuretics or Ipecac to get rid of the excess weight that they have gained because of over eating.

These people also use self –induced vomiting to get rid of excess weight. Non-purging type of Bulimia is seen in about 6-8% cases of Bulimia. This is considered to be a milder form of bulimia as in this way the person tries to get rid of the excess weight of the body. A person suffering from this disease will perform excessive exercise or excessive fasting, in order to get rid of the excessive weight of the body that they have gained due to over eating.

Bulimia Treatment

The treatment of Bulimia involves proper and healthy practices of eating. However, the doctors in order to provide treatment to patients suffering from Bulimia provide behavioural modification programs. Besides, they even provide counselling and prescribe antidepressant drugs in order to treat people suffering from Bulimia.