anorexia pics

Beauty and happiness do not always equate to superficial enchantment and thinness.

Far from the common conception that eating less or “not eating at all” would give most women the hourglass figure that they have been dying for, inappropriate weight control most of the time leads not only to a thin frame but to a more complicated eating disorder called bulimia.

Bulimia a.k.a “bulimia nervosa” is a psychological eating disorder diagnosed mostly in women—most common in adolescent girls—back in the ‘80s. Often characterized by a series of splurge-eating or “binge” followed by purging, bulimia continues to be one of the most dreaded eating disorder that is hard to cure. Up until this time, the exact cause of bulimia is unknown. But, some studies show that family problems, perfectionist personality, and an overemphasis on physical appearance, are some of the factors that leads to the development of bulimia. Another is its being associated with depression.

More often that not, it is quite difficult to determine whether a person is suffering from bulimia or not. While it’s apparent that people with bulimia look perfectly fit—most of them are even of normal weight and may be overweight—it’s really hard to tell because they often deny their condition. However, someone with bulimia is characterized with having extreme measures to lose weight like excessive use of diet pills or takes pills to urinate or have a bowel movement, exercises a lot and shows signs of throwing up, swelling of the cheeks or jaw area cuts and calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles. The affected person is also usually unaware of her abrnormal eating pattern and may experience guilt or fear associated with the “binge-purge” periods, but still, she keeps her behavior is secretive. Aside from overactivity, peculiar eating rituals, and frequent weighing, someone with bulimia also tends to eat lots of food in a short span of time. She tries to prevent gaining weight by making herself throw up, indulges to uncalled for fasting, eating uncontrollably, vomiting, strict dieting and vigorous exercising. Clues to bulimia also include the unnecessary use of laxatives and diuretics in an attempt to lose weight and a tangled preoccupation with body weight and other weight concerns which leads to drastic swinging of moods.

But, more than just being a problem with food, there is more to bulimia. According to most studies, eating disorders like bulimia are rooted from complex emotional issues that focus on self-esteem. Basically an outcome of self-esteem issues, depression, or stress, bulimia often triggers the person’s obsession to the cycle of “binge-eating and purging” for them to exercise their supposed control of their lives and relieve stress or excessive anxiety.

Indeed, apart from all the aesthetic advantages modern times has brought to women, it has also forced them to be more conscious about their physical attributes to an extent of doing things that are hazardous to their health.

Sure, eating less is one of the most effective ways to get thin but, this is also one of the surest causes of the indomitable eating disorder. Bulimia— whether it is purely psychological or physical—effective treatment that include medical management and psychotherapy is a must along with an early a diagnosis to help better the chances of a successful outcome.