Individuals with bulimia nervosa experience periods of binge eating and then purging. This is often just referred to as just {bulimia}. What does that mean? They eat too much {overeat} or eat until they feel like it is time to stop. Often, they eat like this in secret and then start to feel guilty plus ashamed about how much they consume. This is when the purging starts. What does purging mean? An individual will make themself vomit. Of course, there are other ways that individuals will practice getting rid of what they consume that are just as dangerous and unhealthy.

So, let us really look at the whole picture here. There are multiple ways that an individual with bulimia nervosa purges. Listed below are several of the unhealthy habits they develop.

-Purge {vomiting}

-Intense exercising

– Using Laxatives

-Taking diuretics

-Enemas

-Consuming dietary products often.

Individuals who purge are very self-conscious of their bodies. Most are ashamed of their bodies, and no matter how much weight they lose, it seems never enough to satisfy them. Again, they are afraid of gaining weight and will do everything they can to get rid of the extra food they consumed. Unfortunately, many individuals do not realize how dangerous bulimia can truly be. It is considered a serious eating disorder and can be life – threatening. Most individuals suffer from serious symptoms associated with bulimia.

The following is a list of health problems that need to be watched closely if you are aware of someone who suffers from bulimia. Dehydration creates a considerable number of problems involving someone who purges because the individual is more likely to suffer from syncope episodes. They become lightheaded and dizzy. Years ago, I collaborated with a female who suffered from bulimia. There were several times she lost consciousness completely. She lost her job due to developing serious health issues.

Many individuals involved in purging who experience syncope episodes end up having lifelong health issues that cannot be reversed. Some individuals have multiple health problems that take a toll not only on their bodies but also on their entire lifestyle. They can develop problems with heart palpitations, chest pains, dental decay due to all the vomiting, and shortness of breath. One such female that I knew had multiple miscarriages. There are so many more dangerous symptoms associated with bulimia.

I encountered a female who did not realize that purging can lead to serious heart problems due to electrolyte imbalances in her body. Many other signs of dehydration can lead to syncope episodes of instability, disorientation, tiredness, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, cloudy or dark colored urine due to the body being dehydrated, as well as a drop in blood pressure, which can be usually incredibly low. Not only can the above problems be caused by dehydration, but can also lead to urinary tract infections, kidney stones, fatigue, nausea, muscle cramps, and seizures. And even in some severe cases, a coma and organ failure.

Several individuals whom I have known developed problems with gastroesophageal reflux as well, which created a painful problem with their throats due to sticking fingers down their throats to create forcible vomiting. Because of this, usually the esophagus will become damaged (scarred) over time from repeating this process of purging. Doing my time in the medical field, I have seen individuals who had so much damage to their throat that it was required for them to have surgery just to be able to eat and swallow food again. One individual ended up having throat cancer.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), bulimia and other eating disorders are considered mental illnesses. Most individuals, even with serious health problems, tend to continue to have a negative view of their body image. In many incidents involving individuals of different ages, no matter how much help they receive, it will not stop until that individual wants to stop or they die. They must make that choice themselves. Sadly, no one can make it for them.

Years ago, I had a close friend who suffered from bulimia from the time she was in her early teens, as young as 13 years old, well into her forties. Sadly, it took years of treatment for her to overcome bulimia. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done to her body. At one point, she weighed sixty-three pounds, and at 5 feet and eight inches, she looked like a walking skeleton. Seeing her like this broke my heart. The real pain was watching her parents, siblings, husband, and children suffer from watching her starve herself. They did everything possible to help her.

After months of treatment in a facility for bulimia, she was able to come home only to be diagnosed with end-stage renal disease, otherwise known as ESRD. Usually, at stage 5 of kidney disease, dialysis is needed to prolong life. She was on dialysis for 3 years before she finally died. If you know someone suffering from bulimia, listen to them. Encourage them to see a dietitian, to develop healthy hobbies, to seek professional help, such as a counselor or therapist, but most of all, please be a friend and be non-judgmental towards them.

So again, is bulimia nervosa a form of Mental Illness? The answer would be “Yes” according to well-documented medical research!

References:

1. WELL. Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists (EDRS).https://eatingdisorderspecialists.com/blog/

2. NEDA. National Eating Disorders Association.https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder/

3. National Alliance for Eating. Disordershttps://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/

4.WEDMD.https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/default.htm

5.MentalHealth.com.https://www.mentalhealth.com/library/bulimia-nervosa

6. MHA. Mental Health America.https://mhanational.org/conditions/eating-disorders/