Bulimia is a complex disorder that is influenced by a number of factors, including biological, emotional and societal factors. Understanding the various causes of bulimia can help those who struggle with the disorder seek effective treatment. In...
The prescription tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is primarily used to relieve symptoms of depression, and some doctors prescribe it to treat certain eating disorders. While zinc supplements also may be helpful for treating certain eating...
Since the 1950s, the weight gap between the bodies of women pictured in magazines and average American women have grown. The average woman’s weight has increased while the average fashion model’s weight has dropped. This growing...
Bulimia, formally known as bulimia nervosa, is a potentially fatal eating disorder. Bulimia is characterized by patterns of binging, and attempts at eliminating calories, whether through purging or over-exercising. This chronic pattern can cause...
Bulimia is the common name for an eating disorder known as bulimia nervosa. People who have bulimia are obsessed with their weight; they are desperate to lose weight and fearful of gaining weight. They are preoccupied with and unhappy with the...
Potassium is a mineral that is important for many bodily functions. It helps maintain a proper balance between water and salts in cells and bodily fluids, it is crucial for nerve function, and it is needed by muscles for contraction. Deficiency in...
Minerals are inorganic compounds the body needs in order to function properly. Minerals are separated into two categories: major minerals and trace minerals. Major minerals are needed by the body in larger amounts than trace minerals. Calcium and...
Diet pills are weight loss aids available over-the-counter or in stronger doses by prescription only. According to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake, Americans spend over $30 billion each year on diet pills and diet products. Laxatives,...
Bulimia, or bulimia nervosa, is an eating disorder whose sufferers binge and purge; they eat a very large amount of food in a short amount of time, and then take laxatives, induce vomiting, or over-exercise to get rid of it. This behavior is...
Potassium is an electrolyte. Electrolytes are responsible for communicating information between various parts of the body. They do their job by passing around electrical charges through which information is relayed. Potassium carries a strong...
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, compulsive overeating disorder, more commonly called binge eating disorder, is the most common of all eating disorders. It affects about 3 percent of all adults in...
Many people desperate to drop pounds turn to laxatives. However, laxatives do not speed up your metabolism and can be quite dangerous. Instead, to lose weight safely, focus on changing your eating habits and activity levels. Relying on laxatives...
Fluoxetine is a prescription medication used to treat depression disorders and related conditions. As with all medicines, it can cause unwanted side effects in some individuals. Side effects of fluoxetine should be reported to the prescribing...
Everyone craves certain foods from time to time. Eating that food in minimal amounts can help to reduce the urge to go overboard with your favorite meal. If cravings for foods persist, or you feel you cannot control how much you eat per serving,...
Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins bind to the opioid receptor -- the same receptor the powerful painkiller morphine binds to. Endorphins also trigger a pleasure response by activating dopamine receptors. Studies show...
All eating disorders have dangers. If your diet is not balanced and varied, you may become deficient in an important nutrient. Or you may tend to eat too much fat and sugar and develop health problems like diabetes and heart disease. The two...
People who suffer from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa go through bouts of binge eating that are often followed by purging to avoid weight-gain and relieve the feeling of being uncomfortably full. The purge can involve misuse of laxatives or...
Weight Watchers started with in-home meetings in the 1960s. Jean Nidetch, founder of the company, asked personal friends to meet with her and talk about weight loss. Since that time, millions of people have lost weight following the various Weight...
According to the National Eating Disorders Association, up to 10 million females and 1 million males are suffering from the eating disorders bulimia or anorexia. While it is not entirely clear what causes some people to develop these eating...
The easy accessibility of over-the-counter laxatives makes them a popular choice among dieters who mistakenly believe they lead to significant weight loss. Laxative abuse occurs when used for weight control or when used frequently for a long...
Empty wrappers and food packages. Hidden stashes of junk food and breath mints or gum. A consistent pattern of vomiting after eating, or exercising excessively. In some cases, the use of laxatives. All are signs of bulimia, a potentially...
Recovering from an eating disorder does not occur quickly, and many people who have one will relapse before they are completely able to look at eating in a normal way. According to HelpGuide.org, recovery includes treatment, support and self-help....
Binge eating disorder is an eating disorder that, according to New York University's Langone Medical Center, affects 4 percent of Americans. The disorder peaks at age 40 to 50, although it can and does occur at any age. It sometimes occurs in...
A number of illnesses and conditions cause children to vomit. When a child vomits every time he eats, however, he can quickly become dehydrated and malnourished. If the vomiting comes on suddenly and only lasts for a few days, it is probably...
Bulimia is usually associated with eating large amounts of food followed by intentional vomiting. When this becomes a frequent practice, acid from the stomach begins to damage the esophagus and mouth. The resulting health problems are similar to...
An eating disorder can have devastating emotional effects on the sufferer. Eating disorders fall into three categories: anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder (BED) or bulimia nervosa. According to the National Eating Disorders Association,...
Bulimia is a highly secretive disorder accompanied by an abundance of shame, guilt and self-loathing. People struggling with bulimia consume enormous amounts of food in a short period (less than two hours), and then purge their food. Over 90% of...
Bulimia is a serious medical disorder with episodes occurring for years. Relapse is common and getting help as soon as the condition is detected is essential. The binge and purge cycle becomes an addiction. The more a person continues the cycle,...
Recovering from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia is a life long process. The most important thing you can do to recover is visit a mental health professional that can help you to better understand the underlying causes of your...
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder wherein prolonged periods of self-starvation are followed by binge eating and purging. Learn about bulimia nervosa in this eating disorder video.
