Bulimia

=BULIMIA=

**What is it?**

 * ===== Bulimia is a mental illness and a type of eating disorder.=====
 * =====A person with bulimia might binge (heavy eating or drinking in a short period of time) on food and then force to vomit in order to lose weight that might be gained from binging. This cycle of binging and vomiting continues=====
 * ===== A person with bulimia often eats a lot but then feels guilty about it.[[image:img_1.jpg align="right" caption="Picture 1: over-concerned with weight"]]=====

o They know their behavior is not normal.
 * Bulimia is most common in teenage girls.

**What are the causes?**

 * ===== Changes in the levels of the chemical serotonin in the brain can be one of the causes, because it is related to the development of clinical depression=====
 * ===== Cultural factors are one of the major causes of bulimia. For example, modern society signifies on health, especially being thin and another one is to be accepted by others.=====

**What are the symptoms?**

 * ===== Over-concern with weight and body shape.=====
 * ===== A bulimic person might try to conceal their binging and vomiting behavior from others.=====
 * ===== The person might often feel weak, fatigue, loss of menstrual cycles and pain in their stomach.=====
 * ===== The person might complain about vomiting or diarrhea although it is the person’s own action.=====
 * ===== Physical signs of continuous bringing and purging=====

o Dental cavities o Loss of tooth enamel o Enlarged salivary glands o Scars on the knuckles o Dry skin o Changes in the hair and nails o Swelling of the lower legs and feet o Loss of sensation in the hands or feet



**Treatments of Bulimia**

 * ===== Early treatment is important=====

o People with bulimia who are treated early have a better chance of full recovery than those who begins their treatment late.


 * ===== Treated by doctors and psychologists=====

o Not hospitalized unless the conditions are severe


 * ===== If you know anyone who is bulimic, offer support by=====

o Encourage them to stay in treatment and keep appointments with doctors o Monitor the person’s behavior and help them to preserve the eating pattern

Information: Pictures: 1.http://www.faqs.org/health/images/uchr_06_img0618.jpg (April 18, 2008) 2. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/easyread/bulnervosa-etr.htm (April 18, 2008)
 * Bibliography:**
 * Unknown, "Bulimia." __eMedicineHealth__. Available from http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bulimia/article_em.htm#Bulimia%20Overview. Internet; accessed 11 April 2008