LAST week I began talking about eating disorders which are serious and often overlooked mental illnesses. I spoke about the most dangerous – Anorexia Nervosa- and this week I would like to move on to Bulimia, another serious one.

An individual with Bulimia will have periods of binging which is excessive overeating for either short or long periods of time. Someone with Bulimia feels as though they cannot control their eating. Even worse, they eat for many reasons, hunger being just one. Particularly, their eating habits are aligned with their emotions. We call this emotional eating which means they turn to food when they are upset or sad in any way. It means that food is their coping mechanism just like alcohol or marijuana is to a drug user.

It is a difficult illness to understand as while there is intense overeating, there is also the intense fears of being overweight. This fear paradoxically makes the individual eat more.
The overeater knows that guilt and shame come after a binge but it feels like an uncontrollable compulsion; a vicious cycle.

The most dangerous thing about Bulimia is that it is the hardest eating disorder to identify. This is because most people with Bulimia are of average weight as bulimics use extreme methods of attempting to remove the food from the body such as purging (purposely throwing up), laxatives, weight loss pills, illegal drugs or extreme and unsafe exercise.

It is important for you all to know that throwing up or using laxatives is not an effective way to lose weight- which is why bulimics are typically average weight. This is because calorie absorption happens the moment food enters the mouth so any extreme way of removing it from the body won’t even take away 50 per cent of the calories consumed.
Bulimia causes a wide range of physical and mental health issues.

The excessive eating, purging or exercise can place a massive amount of stress on both the mind and body. The daily vomiting leads to staining of the teeth, erosion or the enamel of teeth and even extreme tooth decay. It can also lead to inflammation and infection of the throat. The issue is, if you often throw up after eating, your body gets used to this activity and it becomes a normal bodily response to food. Which means you may not even want to throw up but you will.

Someone with Bulimia is often dehydrated and diagnosed with ulcers or low blood pressure. In extreme cases, the dangerous activity can cause strain on our heart which can result in heart palpitations, heart arrhythmia, heart attacks and even death. It can also result in difficulty becoming pregnant, miscarriages or infertility in general. The stomach lining can also be ripped in severe cases which result in numerous stomach and intestinal issues.

Bulimia is caused by (as well as causes additional) stress and major issues with self-esteem and self-confidence. It leads to withdrawal from friends and family but this isolation fuels the disorder.

Bulimia is also highly correlated with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety and addiction and can lead to issues such as self-harm or suicidal behaviours.

Bulimia is typically developed during adolescence and is more common among females. Anyone can develop it but one is more likely to, if it already runs in their family. The blatant social pressures of being thin, especially for certain professions and hobbies are also triggers for this mental illness. For example, one is more likely to develop an eating disorder is they are models, dancers or swimmers etc.

There are some typical signs and symptoms that can confirm if you or a loved one has bulimia. Bulimics are often preoccupied with food and their weight- often thinking about both throughout the day. They are uncomfortable in their own bodies and make a lot of negative comments about their appearance.

Those with this illness also like to eat alone or hide their eating and food in general as they are typically ashamed when they eat. They are also visibly sad or guilty after eating. Some are afraid to eat in general as there is an underlying fear that they will not be able to stop.
They usually make efforts to get rid of the food almost directly after consuming it.
Some decide to take illegal drugs that tend to change our eating patterns. For example, if someone feels like binging, they may take a drug like marijuana which opens up the appetite. However, after a week-long binge, some may take a stimulant drug like cocaine which decreases the appetite.

Like, with anything else, the first step is admitting that you have this problem. When you have, feel comfortable reaching out to those close to you or a professional. Extreme cases of Bulimia usually require inpatient treatment care. Medications such as anti-depressants and anti-anxiety may be prescribed due to the high correlation of eating disorders and other mental illnesses. It is also beneficial to do counselling sessions at the same time in order to find the root of the problem, triggers that invoke the eating as well as develop healthier ways of coping.

A food journal is typically a good idea for those with bulimia. Writing down everything you have eaten, at what time, what portion along with what event occurred or what mood developed will help to identify triggers and initial reasons for binging.

This is the first step- you can’t overcome something until you identify its pattern.
It’s the first step to developing a healthy relationship with food- one that is not too excessive or too restrictive- find a nice balance that works for you. Remember to also balance your exercise.
Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you suffer from this disorder.

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com or come in to see me at:

Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department:
Monday- Friday – 08:00 hrs- 12:00hrs

Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!