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Food is an important part of our lives and also of our society. But body image and the ideal body image are also a big topic. We are confronted with it on social networks, on television, in magazines and also in everyday life. When people no longer have a healthy relationship with food and their bodies, they have an eating disorder. Such an eating disorder is, for example, bulimia or bulimia nervosa. what exactly is that? How does the disease manifest itself? What are signs? what’s behind it?
bulimia nervosa
Bulimia or bulimia nervosa is one of them recognized eating disorderwhich as a diagnosis im ICD-10 World Health Organization F50.2 It can be found. It stands out regular binge eating in which sufferers consume large amounts of calories in a short period of time. These episodes of binge eating are out of people’s control, so they can’t just stop eating or choose what to eat or how much to eat.
Fear of gaining weight, sufferers resort to it countermeasures. They often vomit, take laxatives, diuretics or other drugs. There may also be periods of fasting or starvation, irregular eating and lots of sports and exercise.
That body weight and your figure therefore, they always play a major role in the lives of the disabled. Both of these factors have a great influence on the self-esteem of persons and have Fear of being overweight or fat.
are affected especially girls and women, make up about 90 percent of those affected. In total, they are about 1.5 percent of the population disabled. The risk of developing the disease is particularly high in girls during adolescence and early adulthood. It is often found out bulimia was preceded by an episode of anorexia Yippee. You can find out what anorexia is exactly here.
TO Diagnosis of bulimia nervosa so I can ask the following criteria from ICD-10 must be met:
- ongoing preoccupation with foodrepeated bouts of food cravings/greed for food
- binge eating with a very large food intake
- Tried on its own prevention of weight gain (vomiting, laxatives, starvation, appetite suppressants or other drugs)
- Strong fear of getting fat; often own a weight limit that is below a “healthy” weight
and aftermath bulimia can be serious. That’s how it is risk of mortality, i.e. the risk of death is twice as high as in healthy people. Other than that, it is risk of suicide it increased 7 times in the disabled. In addition, another physical damage develop. Frequent vomiting can cause permanent damage esophagus and teeth develop. Plus vomiting water and electrolyte balance be damaged, which leads to, among other things, cardiac arrhythmia can lead. Frequent vomiting is also possible enlargement of the salivary glands and inflammationlike renal dysfunction and gastric ruptures. He can too indigestion occur as well as lack of nutrients. This in turn can have other effects, for example on Cardiovascular system, female cycle and concentration.
causes
The causes of bulimia are diverse. Usually come multiple causes together they lead to disease. So there is no “one” cause of bulimia. However, there are some factors that often seem to be responsible. These are now listed and can only be considered as possible causes.
First, it seems biological influence admit. So do some sufferers hereditary genetic predisposition with me. Also a serotonin deficiency and low levels of endogenous opioids may be part of the cause. But also one frequent diets may be partially responsible as a physical influence.
Also play personality traits role. This includes one small self-confidencefondness for perfectionism and pre-existing strong preoccupations with body, appearance and weight issues, as well as a Worry around. of benefit entitlement The sufferer is also often very tall, they have very slim ideal of beauty and mostly negative self image associated with a prominent self-critical Access. Also fear of failure are common.
Also family influences can play a role. To do this, a disturbed eating behavior count in the family, just like these Disability of another family member regarding an eating disorder. Also lack of warmth and affection may play a role, as can impulsive and dysfunctional debate culture. But also broken ideal of beauty within the family or emphasizing the importance of a slim body may play a role.
Slim ideal of beauty can also turn on social level they play a role because it is also disseminated and represented by the media.
It can also be a cause of bulimia stressful or traumatic experiences such as experiences of abuse or violence or neglect.
Food can cause a compensation to this constant tension or negative emotional state which in the operant sense air conditioning further enhanced because the pressure disappears during the meal. For example, vomiting after a meal to prevent weight gain can restore a sense of control, which is also further enhanced by conditioning, as it can help reduce negative feelings after binge eating. This is how the cycle can start.
Signs and symptoms
As mentioned above, a persistent preoccupation with food, binge eating, behaviors designed to avoid weight gain, and a strong fear of gaining weight are symptoms of bulimia nervosa. But now it should be about more Signs and symptoms primarily at the behavioral level sufferers in whom bulimia can be identified.
That mass the person concerned is present No such a sign. Patients are often of normal weight, but may be slightly underweight or overweight.
However, the sign can social exclusion be. The thoughts of disabled people often revolve around the topic of food and their figure. In addition, binge eating is often associated with shame, guilt and frustration. That is why the disabled usually try keep these fits and keep the diet a secret from others. To guarantee this, they withdraw from other people and cut off contact.
Also money problems they sometimes occur in association with bulimia. In case of binge eating, a large amount of food must be bought quickly. Depending on how frequent these seizures are, this can become a major financial burden.
It can also be an if flag Eating in public is mostly avoided is happening However, if consumed in the presence of others, the affected often eat only “healthy” and selected foods. This also serves to hide the disease from others and to keep it secret. In general, you can strongly controlling, sometimes even compulsive eating habits another sign of bulimia.
On the other hand, it can also be noticed in disabled people hoarding and hiding food, so that you have them ready in case of overeating. This can be particularly noticeable if the person does not live alone but, for example, still lives with his parents.
Similarly, other people may notice if they are affected regular laxatives or diuretics buy or eat. Also, frequent disappearances of those afflicted on Toilet may be a sign.
Also physical symptomse.g., by frequent vomiting may notice how tooth damage or very dry skin. However, swelling of the salivary glands can also be too typical “hamster faces” leads
These symptoms, as well as the listed causes, are they are not to be construed as exhaustive, complete, or of unlimited use or accuracy. Like many other diseases, bulimia is a a complex interplay of various factors and influencestherefore, it can manifest itself in different ways or be accompanied by different symptoms and signs.
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