Main Causes of Bulimia

Bulimia may be caused by a genetic component. Certain genes may predispose a person to developing bulimia. Bulimia appears to run in familiespeople with relatives suffering from bulimia have a higher frequency of developing bulimia. This may, however, have more to do with family influences and role models than genetics

Some people may feel that they are fat, no matter how thin they actually are.  Or they may feel guilty when they eat too much food. The guilt and shame from eating makes the person vomit up all their food. These people have bulimia nervosa, or bulimia, an eating disorder. The disorder has nothing to do with the digestive system, but rather with the mind. And though people with bulimia may share the same guilt and shame about food, and the same patterns of bingeing and purging, bulimia has many causes. Doctors have not identified any one cause of bulimia, but do know of several factors that may contribute to developing bulimia.

Bulimia may be caused by a genetic component. Certain genes may predispose a person to developing bulimia. Bulimia appears to run in familiespeople with relatives suffering from bulimia have a higher frequency of developing bulimia. This may, however, have more to do with family influences and role models than genetics. 

Brain chemistry may also cause bulimia. Research indicates that people with bulimia tend to have different levels of a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Altered levels of serotonin may also contribute to clinical depression.

Social pressures may contribute to bulimias development. People who want to please others may feel compelled to keep thin and fit. Women in particular receive daily messages to be thin. This drive may turn into an eating disorder.

Emotional stress from family problems or being a perfectionist may also contribute to a person developing bulimia.

A person with bulimia will first binge, meaning that he or she will eat more than 1,000 calories in one sitting. Sometimes, to a person with an eating disorder like a bulimia, eating a cookie might constitute a binge. The binge then triggers intense feelings of self-disgust and the person will induce vomiting, exercise excessively, or abuse laxatives to remove the perceived extra weight.

Bulimia is caused by numerous, subtle factors, and all people suffering from bulimia need treatment from a psychiatrist and therapy to break the binge-and-purge cycle. Bulimia is completely treatable.

Bulimia provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the pro bulimia viewpoint.  For more information go to http://www.e-bulimia.com and/or visit our affiliate site at http://www.original-content.net. Bulimia; Original Content.

The Link Between Anorexia and Bulimia

Young women and men sometimes starve themselves. It doesnt matter how thin they may be in their internal mirror, they are fat. Or they may so afraid of gaining weight, yet so desperately hungry, that they eat and eat until they feel so guilty that they must vomit up all the food.

These people suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have nothing to do with the digestive tract of the person. Rather, the illness resides in the mind.

Anorexia and bulimia are the two most common eating disorders. They tend to appear most commonly in women.  In fact, 90 percent of all cases are in women. Most eating disorders begin in the teenage years: anorexia most often occurs around puberty, and bulimia hits a bit later. People with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa share the same fear, guilt, and shame about food and fat. Still, they are two separate disorders with different symptoms. People with anorexia starve and exercise themselves thin. People with bulimia eat unhealthy amounts of food and then vomit or purge themselves. People with anorexia or bulimia tend to start at normal weights, but then suffer from poor nutrition as well as the mental and emotional effects of having an eating disorder. Some people with eating disorders may have a combination of anorexia and bulimia.

People with anorexia or bulimia, despite their different behaviors toward food, share many of the same symptoms. Both are undernourished, and, as a result, may have dry skin, brittle hair and nails, be constipated, and may be sensitive to temperature changes. Women may have irregular periods. People with eating disorders may develop food rituals, like only eating certain foods or at specific times, and they may eat in secret. Even when thin, people with eating disorders think of themselves as fat and are terrified of gaining weight.

Each eating disorder has its unique symptoms, however. People with anorexia lose dramatic amounts of weight, eat little amounts of food, and exercise excessively. People with bulimia, however, have symptoms related to constant vomiting. Their stomach acid eats away at their teeth enamel, burns their esophagus, and can cause the salivary glands to swell. People with bulimia may also have cuts or bruises on their fingers from inducing vomiting.

Both anorexia and bulimia are completely treatable. People with eating disorders need professional help from doctors and psychiatrists. It may take years to learn to control an eating disorder. Love and support from friends and family are also needed for recovery from any eating disorder.

Bulimia provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the pro bulimia viewpoint.  For more information go to http://www.e-bulimia.com and/or visit our affiliate site at http://www.original-content.net. Bulimia; Original Content.

The Effects of Bulimia

One of the most marked effects of bulimia is on the teeth and mouth. Frequent vomiting brings up stomach acid into the mouth, eroding teeths enamel. Cavities and gum infections are common in people with bulimia.

People with bulimia have an eating disorder that causes them to binge on food and then, usually, throw up the food during binge-and-purge cycles. Some people may exercise excessively or abuse diuretics or laxatives. Although there is no known cause of bulimia, people who suffer from the disorder tend to be perfectionists who strive to make others happy, and they may also be stressed or depressed. Genetics and social messages also contribute to bulimias development.

One of the most marked effects of bulimia is on the teeth and mouth. Frequent vomiting brings up stomach acid into the mouth, eroding teeths enamel. Cavities and gum infections are common in people with bulimia. The stomach acid also irritates the esophagus, producing heartburn, and the salivary glands, making them swell.

Bulimia harms the entire body. People with bulimia also tend to be constipated from laxative abuse and improper nutrition. Bulimics typically eat high calorie, low nutritional value foods like breads or ice cream. As a result, they may be undernourished and have dry skin, hair, and nails. Bulimia causes mineral and vitamin deficiencies and can lead to chronic kidney problems, including kidney failure. Dehydration is also common in people with bulimia. Undernourishment and dehydration lower the bodys electrolytes, causing an irregular heartbeat or heart problems. The effects can be serious. When potassium drops severely,  it can cause the heart to stop, resulting in death.

Bulimia affects peoples mental and emotional well-being. These problems can come directly from bulimia, or bulimia may be a response to the other problems. People with bulimia may be tired and unable to perform at peak levels from the mental and physical stress bulimia puts on the mind and body. Depression, low self-esteem, and extreme perfectionism are common in people with bulimia. Bulimia can cause tension with family and friends, interrupting the lives of people with the disorder.

The most severe effect of bulimia is death. Ten percent of people with bulimia eventually die from its effects, usually from the electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration.

Bulimia provides detailed information about the causes, symptoms, and effects of bulimia; bulimia treatment and recovery; the relationship between anorexia and bulimia; and information about the pro bulimia viewpoint.  For more information go to http://www.e-bulimia.com and/or visit our affiliate site at http://www.original-content.net. Bulimia; Original Content.