Have you or someone you care about struggled with a loss of control over eating habits while yearning to stay thin? You might be experiencing an eating disorder known as bulimia nervosa. First identified in the 1980s, bulimia was initially associated with anorexia but differs in that it involves a binge-purge cycle. Those affected often consume large amounts of food in a short period and then, overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame, try to purge it from their bodies. However, there’s so much more to understand about bulimia than just this one symptom.
Honey Lake Clinic provides mental health treatment for teenage girls ages 13-17 in a Christ-centered environment. In the tranquil setting of our lakeside facility, we help our patients reclaim their stories and step into their God-given potential—call 888.428.0562 today to get started. While we do not expressly treat active eating disorders, we can refer you to a facility or outpatient provider that aligns with your biblical worldview.
Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
Common symptoms of bulimia include:
- Binge eating – Recurrent episodes of consuming large amounts of food with a feeling of lack of control.
- Purging behaviors – Inappropriate methods to prevent weight gain, such as vomiting or excessive use of laxatives.
- Body image issues – Self-esteem overly influenced by body shape and weight.
- Fear of weight gain – An intense fear of gaining weight despite having a normal weight.
While these are the most common symptoms, bulimia can manifest in various ways, and not everyone will experience all of them.
7 Facts About Bulimia That You Should Know
1. Bulimia is rooted in compulsive habits.
If you have bulimia or another eating disorder, you may be obsessed with your body image and go to severe measures to alter your weight. While anorexia nervosa sufferers tend to restrict their calorie intake, bulimia sufferers binge eat and purge.
Binge eating is consuming large portions of food in short periods of time, and is often done in secret. Guilt and shame often follow. These are also symptoms of binge-eating disorder. The difference is that bulimia includes purging—behaviors such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, or fasting.
If you have bulimia, you may also exercise compulsively. Regular exercise is a normal part of a healthy lifestyle. But people with bulimia can take this to the extreme, exercising several hours a day. This can lead to other health problems, such as:
- Muscle wasting – Too much exercising can break down muscle tissue, making it weaker and more prone to injury.
- Bone loss – The excessive stress on the body from over-exercising can weaken bones, increasing the risk of fractures.
2. Bulimia is a mental health condition.
Bulimia is an eating disorder, but it is also a mental health condition. The binge-purge cycle is a way to cope with underlying emotional and psychological issues such as low self-esteem, depression, or anxiety. Working through these underlying issues is crucial in treating bulimia.
3. Bulimia may be genetic.
There is no identified cause of bulimia. Some research suggests the disorder may be genetic. You may be more prone to developing bulimia if your parent has a related eating disorder. It is not clear how much this is due to genes, or to environmental factors at home.
4. Bulimia may be influenced by societal pressures.
Some cases suggest there may be a correlation between the American obsession with thinness and eating disorders. Wanting to adapt to popular beauty standards can cause people—especially youth—to engage in unhealthy eating habits.
5. Bulimia affects men and boys, too.
While women are the most prone to eating disorders, especially bulimia, the disorder is not gender specific. Men and boys can also develop bulimia, and it’s vital that they receive proper treatment as well.
6. People who struggle with bulimia aren’t always below a normal weight.
Many people believe that only underweight individuals experience eating disorders like bulimia. However, this is not always the case—people of all weights can struggle with bulimia. Weight and body shape do not determine the severity or validity of an eating disorder.
Where anorexia causes a large calorie deficit, sometimes leading to extreme weight loss, people suffering with bulimia tend to consume more calories overall through bingeing and purging. This explains why many people with bulimia still retain normal body weights. This can be deceptive to loved ones, and can even cause a doctor to miss the diagnosis.
7. Bulimia can have serious health consequences.
This eating disorder causes more than just unhealthy weight loss. Every system in your body is dependent on nutrition and healthy eating habits to function properly. When you disrupt your natural metabolism through binging and purging, your body can be seriously affected.
Bulimia can also cause:
- Anemia
- Low blood pressure and irregular heart rate
- Dry skin
- Ulcers
- Decreased electrolyte levels and dehydration
- Esophageal ruptures from excessive vomiting
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Irregular periods
- Kidney failure
If you or someone you love suffers with bulimia, there is hope. Treatment is available that can offer you the chance for complete recovery. We can help.
What Happens in Treatment for Bulimia?
In Honey Lake Clinic’s residential program, our patients are surrounded by a team of experts who will treat the physical issues that result from malnutrition and offer emotional support to break the cycles of binge eating and purging.
The girls in our care participate in:
- Therapy with licensed counselors
- Recreational activities like hiking, swimming, and horseback riding
- Bible study and prayer
- Nutritional counseling
- Ongoing schoolwork
Many of our patients say that the environment at Honey Lake Clinic feels like home. Our sprawling campus offers a place for reflection as well as activity, and our team helps every patient in our care work through every aspect of their mental health challenges.
Reach Out to Honey Lake Clinic for Help
Bulimia is treatable. For teenage girls who are struggling, we can refer you to a facility or outpatient provider that aligns with your biblical worldview. Call Honey Lake Clinic 888.428.0562 today to get started.
