CONSEQUENCES OF BULIMIA ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH - ECONOMÍA - 2024

The health consequences of bulimia can be physical and psychological: chemical imbalances, esophagus problems, problems chewing food, kidney problems, pancreatitis, osteoporosis, anemia, irritability, depression, anxiety disorders, substance addiction, isolation social and others that I will explain below.

When you have bulimia, your body shape, size and weight are harshly judged. To alleviate this discontent, you begin by developing strict diets to lose weight. However, as time passes, hunger triggers the urge to binge eat.

The funny thing is that people who suffer from it are so afraid of gaining weight that even knowing the serious consequences that these habits have on health, they are not able to stop them.

The health consequences of bulimia can consist of damaging effects on a set of different systems and organs, some being less and others more life threatening.

What is bulimia?

We can define bulimia as the presence of binge-eating episodes, or ingestion of an immense amount of food in a short period of time, followed by various strategies to avoid the weight gain that this food will cause.

Purging methods are used, for example: laxatives, diuretics, forced vomiting, or extreme physical exercise. All this process is repeated and is accompanied by great suffering and a feeling of loss of control. (Here you can know the types of bulimia that exist)

It seems that the motivation that drives this behavior is an obsession to lose weight, due to disagreement with the shape or size of the body.

In a contradictory way, people who suffer from bulimia usually do not manifest it in their appearance. That is, they can have a body weight within normal and even overweight.

However, there are other hidden reasons in this disease: the desire for control, the desire for perfectionism, the desire to enter within the cultural or family demands, and the need to alleviate anxiety and the stress that this generates.

Physical consequences of bulimia

1- Chemical imbalances

Binge and purge cycles can affect the entire digestive system, leading to chemical and electrolyte imbalances.

Electrolytes control essential functions of the body and some of them are potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus or sodium. They are usually lost after an intense loss of body fluids or dehydration, such as that which occurs after purges.

When the balance between sodium and potassium is unbalanced, changes in the electrical signaling of the heart can cause irregularities in the functioning of the heart. Specifically heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and even death.

If sodium is lacking, there is a drop in blood pressure and dizziness. On the other hand, if there is a magnesium deficiency, muscle weakness, tingling and cramps appear.

2- Exposure to stomach acids

By vomiting, people with bulimia expose their mouths to powerful stomach acids, which are responsible for breaking down food in the stomach.

As a consequence, the teeth are damaged and may even be lost, as acids can destroy the enamel that protect the teeth.

It is manifested by stained teeth, cavities, pain, unusual tooth sensitivity to very cold, hot or sweet foods, inflammation of the gums, gingivitis, etc.

Additionally, continued exposure to stomach acids can damage the salivary glands, causing swelling and pain in the cheeks. This gives the appearance of a wide and inflamed face.

3- Problems in the esophagus

Swelling, deterioration, and even rupture of the esophagus from frequent forced vomiting. Also due to contact with stomach acids ulcers and abnormal narrowing of the esophagus can occur due to inflammation of the esophagus. It can manifest itself with the appearance of blood in vomiting.

Sometimes a phenomenon called gastroesophageal reflux can appear, that is, due to the habit of vomiting the stomach contents return to the mouth spontaneously.

There is also difficulty speaking or hoarseness due to the wear and tear of the esophagus.

4- Difficulties chewing and swallowing food

These difficulties occur due to the damage caused to the mouth and esophagus due to frequent vomiting.

5- Inadequate intestinal motility

The intestine presents irregular movements and due to the abuse of laxatives, chronic constipation and hemorrhoids occur. Other gastrointestinal effects include diarrhea, cramps, and bloating.

6- Delayed emptying of the stomach

7- Gastric rupture

Gastric rupture can occur due to strong periods of bingeing. There are serious situations of intestinal disorders in bulimia that may make surgical intervention essential for the digestive system to function properly again.

8- Kidney problems

The prolonged abuse of diuretics can alter the functioning of the kidneys, causing urinary infections, production of stones or sand in the kidney, and even renal necrosis can appear that finally causes the loss of the kidney.

9- Peptic ulcers

Peptide ulcers are crater-like lesions that appear in the mucosa of the stomach or duodenum.

10- Pancreatitis or inflammation of the pancreas

11- Respiratory problems

Respiratory problems can occur, since it can happen that, by causing vomiting, a small amount of gastric acid enters the airways. That is why it is not surprising that pneumonia or bronchitis occur.

12- Other physical problems

Other physical aspects include dry skin, very low blood pressure and pulse, cramps, muscle fatigue, weakness, fainting, and loss of consciousness.

13- Low body temperature

In fact, these people are often more sensitive to cold.

14- Osteoporosis

15- Anemia or lack of iron

16- Binge on junk food

The type of food that is usually eaten during bingeing is caloric, with little nutritional value and with a large amount of sugar. They are usually candy, cookies, ice cream, or chocolate.

Therefore, the few nutrients that the body can absorb are not the best for health.

17- Side effects of medications

Overuse of some medications to induce vomiting like ipecac syrup can have serious side effects like diarrhea, low blood pressure, chest pain, and trouble breathing.

18- Fluctuating and unstable body weight,

Fluctuating and unstable body weight, due to nutrient imbalances and periodic malnutrition.

19- Changes in the hormonal cycles of women

These changes alter your menstruation and reproductive capacity. There may even be amenorrhea or absence of menstruation. In men, stagnation can be found in the reproductive system.

20- Calluses on the fingers of the hands

A visible sign that appears as a result of frequent provoked vomiting is calluses or wounds on the fingers, especially on the knuckles. These signs are observed when the person vomits with their hands, due to the pressure of the teeth.

21- Lanugo, fragility in hair and nails

Other observable signs are lanugo, or fine and long hair that covers the entire skin to protect it due to the absence of fat, hair loss, brittle nails, paleness, etc.

22- Bulimia and pregnancy:

Bulimics who are pregnant are twice as likely to have a variety of health consequences, such as miscarriages, premature births, breathing problems, pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnancy.

Other consequences are the need for a cesarean section, a baby with a low body weight at birth or even the baby dying at birth.

These people are also more at risk of developing depression during and after pregnancy.

23- Diabetes

Interestingly, it is common to find adolescents with type 1 diabetes and bulimia. This occurs because when treated with insulin (to reach adequate glucose levels) they begin to gain weight quickly, leading some to avoid insulin to lose weight again.

By not treating diabetes, the individual is at risk of developing multiple medical complications such as kidney failure or blindness.

Psychological consequences and repercussions on daily life

24- Irritability and ups and downs in mood

25- Depression

Depression associated with intense feelings of guilt and shame after bingeing, anxiety, and obsessions.

26- Anxiety

Anxiety disorders like social phobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.

27- Substance addiction

Substance use disorders develop in more than a third of people with bulimia.

28- Borderline personality disorder

There is a relationship between bulimia and borderline personality disorder, compared to other eating disorders.

29- Suicidal ideation

In many cases, the distortion increases as the disease progresses. For example, in testimonies in which those affected have recovered, they frequently report that one day they suddenly looked in the mirror and realized their real appearance (obviously skinny) when they had always thought - falsely - that they were overweight.

31- Social isolation for various reasons

The person is tired, sleepy and their thoughts revolve around food. It may also happen that due to the dissatisfaction they feel with their own body, they do not feel like going out or socializing, although they usually avoid social events because they usually drink or eat. They tend to be continually attentive to themselves, becoming totally self-centered as a result of illness.

If you live with the family, you may clash with them for wanting to disappear at meal times, refusing to eat, or constantly avoiding them.

A loss of libido and lack of interest in meeting potential partners is also common.

32- Difficulty attending, concentrating and memorizing

33- Low work or school performance

Because the person does not have enough energy. In addition, what little strength she has left is spent ruminating on her obsessions with food and her body, compensatory behaviors such as excessive physical exercise or cooking or buying food.

34- Reduction of hours of sleep or insomnia

Bulimic people can have sleep problems, since hunger and lack of nutrients cause cold, cramps and sleep disturbances. As a consequence of this, the person will be even more tired, and will see things in a more negative way.

35- Feelings of guilt

They can have great feelings of guilt when they begin to realize that their illness has brought negative consequences in their life: they are not able to carry out leisure activities like their peers, they have lost their job or dropped out of school, they have put aside their friends, feel bad about cheating or hurting their family members, etc.

Here is a video summary of the article:

Treatment

Despite the severity of this disorder and its dangerous consequences, bulimia can be successfully treated. In fact, about half of bulimic people make a full recovery with proper treatment.

It is important to intervene as soon as possible so that the damage is minor and easier to repair.

However, you should know that bulimia is a very persistent disorder that produces obsessions that are very difficult to forget. It is not strange, therefore, that relapses occur in times of stress. No need to panic, just seek help.

We must bear in mind that recovery from a mental disorder such as bulimia is not immediate or linear, but rather it is something that oscillates: it has its best and worst moments and relapses are normal, the important thing is to know how to get up.

If you want to know how to prevent bulimia (and anorexia) you can find information here.

References

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5. Health Consequences of Eating Disorders. (sf). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from IOWA State University. Student Consueling Services.
6. Health Effects of Bulimia. (sf). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from Elements Behavioral Health.
7. THE EFFECTS OF BULIMIA ON THE BODY. (sf). Retrieved on August 02, 2016, from Health Line.