Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorders not otherwise specified are subtypes of eating disorders. Functional oesophageal, gastroduodenal, bowel, abdominal pain and anorectal disorders are subgroups of
functional gastrointestinal disorders
What type of mental illness is bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is
an eating disorder and serious mental health problem
. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their life are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but there is help available.
Is bulimia a metabolic disorder?
Metabolic abnormalities may vary among individuals struggling with bulimia based on type of purging methods, as the different purging methods can impact the body differently. A common metabolic complication resulting from severe vomiting includes hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis.
What is the DSM 5 code for bulimia?
2
) Bulimia nervosa is a DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.) diagnosis assigned to individuals who recurrently overeat and use inappropriate measures to prevent weight gain afterwards, such as purging, fasting or exercising excessively.
Is bulimia a nutritional disorder?
In summary, bulimia nervosa
can lead to nutritional deficiencies
that pose significant health risks for individuals diagnosed with this illness. It is important for medical providers to inquire about purging behaviors and for patients to disclose the degree to which they purge.
What does bulimia do to your face?
Face swelling is one of the Bulimia effects sufferers find most distressing: sometimes described as ‘Bulimia face,’ the swelling can make people feel their face ‘looks fat’. What is taking place is the
body’s reaction to self-induced vomiting and the dehydration
it causes.
What causes hypokalemia in bulimia?
Rates of renal potassium secretion are further increased in the presence of an
elevated aldosterone level secondary to volume contraction
, causing worsening hypokalemia.
How do doctors test for bulimia?
Do a
physical exam
.
Request blood and urine tests
. Request a test that can identify problems with your heart (electrocardiogram) Perform a psychological evaluation, including a discussion of your attitude toward your body and weight.
What is the most effective treatment for bulimia?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)
remain the most established treatments for bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder, with stepped-care approaches showing promise and new behavioral treatments under study. Transdiagnostic enhanced CBT has improved symptoms in adults and youth.
What are the warning signs of bulimia?
- Episodes of binge eating.
- Self-induced vomiting.
- Smelling like vomit.
- Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
- Complaining about body image.
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
Do bulimics lose weight?
Not everyone with bulimia is ultra-thin. Anorexia causes a large calorie deficit, leading to extreme weight loss. People with bulimia can experience episodes of anorexia, but they still tend to consume more calories overall through bingeing and purging.
What is the typical profile of a person with bulimia nervosa?
The typical profile of a person with bulimia nervosa is an
adolescent to young adult female
who is impulsive, perfectionistic, hard-working, introverted, resistant to change and self-critical. They also tend to have low self-esteem based on body image distortion.
How long can you survive with bulimia?
Roughly 50% of women will recover from bulimia within ten years of their diagnosis
, but an estimated 30% of these women will experience a relapse of the disorder. These behaviors can wreak havoc on the body both in the short-term and the long-term.
Does throwing up get rid of calories?
FACT: Research has shown that
vomiting cannot get rid of all the calories ingested
, even when done immediately after eating. A vomit can only remove up to about half of the calories eaten – which means that, realistically, between half to two thirds of what is eaten is absorbed by the body.
What does skin purging feel like?
Skin purging typically looks like
tiny red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch
. They are often accompanied by whiteheads or blackheads. It can also cause your skin to become flaky. The flare ups caused by purging have a shorter lifespan than a breakout.
What to do after purging?
- avoid brushing teeth immediately after vomiting so you do not wear away the enamel.
- rinse your mouth with a non-acidic mouthwash.
- make sure you see your dentist regularly.
- do not drink or eat acidic foods, such as fruit juice, during a binge and after purging.
- do not smoke.
