Bulimia:
consequences
Bulimia is an eating disorder and is a mental
illness. Uncontrolled binge eating and subsequent vomiting , the use of laxatives or extreme exercise
because of fear of gaining weight after the binge eating characterize
bulimia. These behaviors put a heavy strain on the body in the long
run. The diverse consequences of bulimia can also be acutely life-threatening. Some
long-term effects of bulimia persist even after successful therapy.
Bulimia:
consequences for the body
When sick people vomit or swallow laxatives
frequently, the body is getting too few vitamins. As a result, those
affected often have symptoms of malnutrition - with sometimes life-threatening
consequences.
In addition, because of the constant fasting, the
body can put the metabolism on the back burner and thus drastically reduce
energy consumption.
The body loses important salts (electrolytes)
through vomiting or purging. If this happens regularly, as in bulimia, it
disrupts the electrolyte balance - with dangerous consequences
for the heart . A lack of salt weakens the muscles -
including those of the heart. A severe deficiency in potassium can trigger life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular
fibrillation) . Loss of potassium also causes constipation .
Bulimia can also affect the brain: the loss of
sodium may trigger fluid build-up in the brain ( brain edema). They can cause irreversible
damage to the mind, cause seizures , or even be fatal.
Recent studies show that bulimia can also be
accompanied by a severe loss of brain matter. Those affected
can suffer from neurological deficits and
decreased mental performance in the long term .
A deficiency in calcium , vitamin D and
estrogen leads to bone loss ( osteoporosis ) as
a long-term consequence of bulimia . The lack
of estrogen can also cause the menstrual
period to stop .
Children or adolescents who develop bulimia often
develop worse or slower than their peers during puberty and grow less.
Vomiting and diarrhea cause excessive fluid loss in
the body. Too little fluids can damage the kidneys. Kidney failure can result.
People with bulimia shovel large amounts of food
into themselves within a very short time. The stomach can overextend and
crack in the stomach wall. As a result, the gastric mucosa often becomes
inflamed or a gastric ulcer develops with life-threatening gastric bleeding .
Bulimia:
consequences of vomiting
The breaking process itself also damages the body
in different ways. When choking, the salivary glands are heavily
stressed. If the parotid glands subsequently become inflamed and swell,
the typical hamster cheeks of bulimics develop .
The high pressure on the stomach and esophagus when
vomiting can cause tears in the esophageal wall. The so-called reflux disease occurs as a long-term consequence of
bulimia, when the gastric sphincter is damaged by frequent vomiting. Then
acidic stomach contents flow into the esophagus. In addition to heartburn,
this can cause painful inflammation of the mucous membrane. The acidic
content of the stomach attacks the protective enamel when it
comes into contact with the teeth . As a result, many people with
bulimia have severe tooth decay .
If bulimics stick their fingers or objects down
their throats to trigger the gag reflex, they can injure themselves in the
process. Because of bite injuries ,
those affected often have calluses or scars on the knuckles. Objects in
the throat can injure the esophagus.
Bulimia:
consequences of drug abuse
The abuse of medication is just as harmful as
vomiting. The often overdosed and regular intake of laxatives or diuretics
can permanently impair the functioning of the kidneys and liver as a long-term consequence . The intestines can also be damaged. The bowel
movements are then sluggish and too weak to move the stool out of the
bowel. A chronic inflammation of the intestine is
a possible consequence.
Bulimia:
psychological consequences
Bulimia is often associated with depression and
anxiety disorders. Some people suffer from the disease so badly that they
take their own lives.
Bulimia:
causes
Bulimia almost always develops from an interplay of
different factors.
The eating disorder particularly affects
women. Around 90 percent of the patients are female, only ten percent are
men.
In addition, bulimia occurs primarily in the
western world. The western ideal of beauty is seen as one cause. The
ideal typical weight of many models is underweight.
Mental
causes of bulimia
If there is excessive pressure to perform,
a lack of recognition in the family or by peers , social withdrawal or strong control by parents, the
risk of bulimia increases. Many sufferers have low self-esteem and self-doubt plague
them.
This often not only affects figure and appearance,
but also other areas of life such as school, work, relationships and
friendships. Those affected therefore try to be above average in these
areas. The uncontrolled binge eating in bulimia, in particular, is often
accompanied by shame and in turn increases the self-doubt of those
affected. This creates a vicious circle of self-doubt, starvation and
eating-vomiting behavior that reinforces itself.
Many bulimics suffer from anorexia before
this condition . Younger sufferers in particular follow strict
permanent diets first. The long starvation leads to hypoglycaemia, which
triggers food cravings. They vomit or take laxatives for fear of gaining
weight and develop the typical eating-vomiting behavior of bulimia.
Bulimia:
Possible comorbidities
It is not always clear what is the cause and what
is the consequence of bulimia. Many people with bulimia suffer from depression at the same time . It is assumed
that the very controlled and restrictive eating behavior in bulimia can trigger
depression. However, this mainly happens when those affected have an
increased risk of depression regardless of bulimia.
The same applies to anxiety disorders (panic
disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or social phobias) ,
which are often associated with bulimia. Because starvation and diets -
especially at a young age - can lead to biological development disorders. In
particular, the function of the messenger substance serotonin , which is responsible in the brain for
mood, behavioral control and appetite, can be damaged by early diets and later
increase the risk of bulimia.
Many of those affected hardly or not at all
recognize their own needs. They only perceive body
signals such as hunger or satiety to a limited extent. As a
result, they often act as they think they will be expected to do. You feel
dependent on the opinion of others. As a result, a great internal tension
builds up, which can then express itself in sudden outbursts of feeling and
binge eating.
The risk of developing bulimia also increases
when family members have bulimia, depression,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other addictions.
