Bulimia: Symptoms and Treatment
Between one and three percent of teen girls and young women suffer from bulimia at some time in their lives. Binge eating is a major symptom. A three-pronged approach to treatment may be necessary to combat this debilitating illness.
Bulimia is classified as an eating disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Often portrayed in the media, bulimia is an illness that plagues more girls and women than boys or men. The disorder consists of episodes of binge eating, followed by various behaviors which are performed to offset the huge intake of calories. The subsequent behaviors often include excessive exercise, refusal to eat anything, misuse of various pills or medicines (for example, laxatives), and self-induced vomiting.
About 1 to 3 per cent of teen and young women are bulimic, according to the DSM-IV. The percentage reported for teen and young men is just 1/10 th of the statistic for women. The nature of bulimia is secrecy and manipulation, thus, it may not be immediately detected by loved ones and treatment professionals.
Symptoms of Bulimia
The symptoms of bulimia (also known as bulimia nervosa) are:
Repeating events of binge eating. These episodes include eating gross amounts of food and doing nothing but eating in a specific period of time. In addition, the person feels as if she cannot stop herself from eating–she feels her eating behavior is out of control.
“Compensatory behaviors.” As mentioned earlier, certain behaviors follow the binge eating. These compensatory behaviors include inducing vomiting, not eating at all for several hours or more, exercising to excess, and taking pills and medicines inappropriately in hopes of voiding weight from the body.
The number of times the episodes of eating and compensatory behavior occurs is, at least, quarterly. Specifically, the first 2 symptoms listed must occur together and happen no less than two episodes a week for 3 months, on average to meet the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa.
Treatment for Bulimia
Treatment for bulimia tends to be lengthy and complicated. As in many other psychologically based problems, the best interventions to arrest bulimia are medical and psychological. An additional adjunct in the cases of eating disorders is nutritional counseling. These methods can be conducted successfully on an outpatient basis for many individuals suffering from bulimia. However, in the event the disorder continues after such treatment regimens are followed, then hospitalization in a program specializing in eating disorders may be necessary. A three pronged approach to resolving the bulimia is best: medical, nutritional, and psychological.
Medical intervention–The first line of defense for anyone who has bulimia is to call the primary care physician. Asking the doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist–a medical doctor who specializes in the assessment and treatment of psychiatric disorders–is recommended. Seeking treatment from such a specialist assures the individual will receive highly specialized treatment specific to the disorder and the person. There may be complicating factors, such as additional psychiatric problems clouding the symptomatic picture. Therefore, consultation with a psychiatrist is key.
Nutritional intervention–Because of the difficulties with eating, it is occasionally helpful to have the patient meet with a nutritionist to be educated about healthy and proper nutrition. In fact, sometimes, regularly scheduled meetings with the nutritionist is helpful to assure the individual struggling with bulimia that she will receive extra support during the difficult time.
Psychological intervention–A very important aspect of treatment for bulimia, counseling/talk therapy is imperative to help get to the roots of the emotions that trigger bulimic episodes. Many times, the person suffering from bulimia has difficulty identifying and verbally expressing genuine feelings. Engaging in ongoing treatment with a therapist/mental health counselor can be of great assistance in reaching resolution of an eating disorder. Learning more effective methods of confronting and coping with life stressors will be an integral aspect of treatment.
Hospitalization–In cases where the individual is experiencing out of control bulimic episodes, inpatient treatment may be the best choice. The value of having various treatment professionals close by when someone is in the throes of bulimia cannot be exaggerated. Intensive, daily counseling, nutritional support, and medical care can be provided around the clock until the bulimic events are under control.
Because many other problems can develop as a result of bulimia, treatment must be sought out as soon as possible. Dental problems, stomach problems, and poor nourishment are just a few of the complicating factors of bulimia. Once the behaviors are known and identified, effective treatment can be obtained. Using the three-pronged approach to treatment, the person with bulimia can obtain help for an otherwise devastating problem.
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