Bulimia Facts a Parent Needs to Know


Consider the following bulimia facts:
  • People with bulimia binge, on average, 11 times per week.
  • About 2 - 4% of all young women are bulimic.
  • About 90% of all bulimics are women.
  • Homosexual males are more likely to be bulimic than heterosexual males (but we don't know why that is so).
  • As many as 15% of all adult women have some symptoms of bulimia, although not all meet the full criteria for being diagnosed with the condition.
  • While they may not meet all the criteria for being diagnosed with bulimia, about 13% of all high school girls purge at least on occasion.
The bulimia facts are staggering, aren't they? And even more staggering is the fact that without treatment, about 5% of people with bulimia may die from the condition (bulimia is less deadly than anorexia - about 20% of anorexics die without treatment).

People with Bulimia

It is important to understand that, for the most part, people with bulimia seem just like everybody else. About 64% of people with bulimia have near-normal body weights. They look healthy at first glance, although if you look closely you might notice some problems. For instance, they might have calluses on their knuckles from making themselves vomit. Their teeth might appear almost clear due to the acid in vomit. They may have thin, lank hair. But you usually cannot tell just by looking at someone that they are bulimic, the way you might know by looking at someone that they are anorexic.

The Bulimia Facts

Bulimia is an eating disorder in which a person binges (eats a large amount of food in a very short period of time) and purges (gets rid of the food, usually by vomiting). As mentioned above, it's a relatively common disorder. And, as mentioned above, it can be deadly.
Some of the medical problems that are common in people with bulimia include stomach ulcers, electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, malnutrition, irregular heartbeat and other cardiac problems, pancreatitis, kidney failure, and osteoporosis. Some of these problems, such as heart problems and kidney failure, can cause death if not treated promptly. Even with treatment, some of the problems may not resolve completely. For example, once you have osteoporosis, you can rebuild some bone density, but you will always be at an increased risk for fractures. Kidney damage and heart damage may be permanent, as well.

Treating Bulimia

The bulimia facts tell us that treatment is very important, since without treatment, the disorder can be deadly. The earlier treatment begins, the more successful treatment is likely to be. Studies have shown that those who receive treatment within the first five years of having bulimia have an 80% chance of recovery. Those who do not receive treatment in the first five years are less likely to recover. In addition, the longer a person has been bulimic, the greater the chance is for permanent health problems that will not be resolved even with treatment.
The bulimia facts also tell us what kind of treatment program is most effective for bulimia. Treatment must include a number of components, including medical care, an evaluation to see if psychotropic medication is appropriate, individual and group counseling, and nutritional counseling and education. Treatment programs that don't include all of these components are unlikely to be effective. Effective treatment programs usually begin with inpatient care and then provide outpatient care after that for a significant length of time. A treatment program that specializes in eating disorders is usually more effective than the treatment provided in a general psychiatric unit.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4265809
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