It’s a universal experience: we eat when we’re bored, or lonely, or excited… for a multitude of different reasons that sometimes do not include hunger. But our psychological reactions to this experience can vary greatly. For some, it becomes a cycle, a burden. Some will binge eat then panic when the sick feeling sets in, taking drastic measures to reverse the damage they have just inflicted on themselves. Bulimia is a very real and common problem, affecting (millions) of men, women and children of all ages. What Is Bulimia? Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by regular episodes of binge eating, followed by frantic efforts to avoid gaining weight. Bulimia is a significant public-health problem, both because of the physical and mental health effects it can have. This illness often co-occurs with body dysmorphic disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders. To be bulimic means you are locked in to a constant struggle between binge eating and an intense desire to try and avoid gaining weight. Those who suffer from it are aware of what they are doing and know the consequences, feeling sick, guilty and ashamed-but feel powerless to stop themselves, as if it is beyond their control. Typically, a binge tends to mean you will consume between 3,000 to 5,000 calories within an hour. Upon the completion of the binge, the inevitable panic will set it and sufferers will take drastic measures in an attempt to “undo” the binge. Methods may include self-induced vomiting, taking laxatives or extreme […]
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