Maraaz 
Eating-out addiction (called Bulimia nervosa or Bulimia in expert language). Its typical feature is frequent eating crises. People suffering from bulimia tend to consume excessive amounts of calories over a short period of time.
They are not in a position to control these severe hunger attacks and determine how much food they will eat from which food.
Because they are ashamed, bulimics often try to hide their eating attacks.
Bulimia victims develop remedies to prevent weight gain after eating crises to avoid getting fat. They vomit what they eat, take laxatives, diuretics or other medicines. They also use sports and exercise, enema or strict diet options to maintain their weight. Bulimic people are thus constantly preoccupied with their body weight. Often, even if they are at a normal weight, they are afraid of getting fat.
How common is bulimia?
One to two out of every 100 people develop bulimia. However, individual symptoms (signs of the disease) of bulimia are more common and are present in about 5 out of every 100 people.
This disease occurs especially in women and young girls. 90 out of 100 bulimics are young girls and women. However, more and more young men have recently reported that they are afraid of getting fat. They report that he controls his eating behavior, goes into hunger attacks, takes off what he eats, does more and more sports, or turns to laxative drugs to maintain his weight.
Are there different forms and courses of Bulimia disease?
Bulimia disease is mostly seen in early adulthood. Victims were very abstinent to admire their bodies, while at the same time they had to fight their growing hunger and eating crises. It is also not uncommon for bulimia to occur in the continuation of extreme weakness. In these cases, the symptoms of wasting disease decrease and body weight returns to normal. However, afterwards, eating crises that the patient resists with methods such as vomiting and laxative medicines appear. Normal and bulimic periods in eating behavior frequently change places.
Bulimia is an easily treatable mental illness. About a third of the victims regain a completely normal eating behavior with psychotherapy. For another part of the victims, at least an improvement in symptoms can be achieved.
How does a bulimia disease occur?
Various factors and conditions are effective together in Bulimia disease. Social factors can play a role. Examples of this are the western ideal of beauty that goes from being too thin, and the constant access to high-calorie foods. Social factors act in conjunction with an individual’s biological (eg, hereditary), personal (eg low self-esteem) and background (eg death of a close person) characteristics. This can trigger or facilitate the formation and maintenance of bulimia.
Who in particular is at risk?
The risk of bulimia is considered to be high, especially in young women aged 18-24. Low self-esteem, define themselves mostly based on their body and weight. People who fast frequently and receive little support from their social environment are also at higher risk.
More and more people suffer from bulimia in professions that place special requirements for weight and body (eg modeling, dance, professional sports).
Another factor is the family situation. Criticism of parents and siblings about the weight and body of the patient, a family environment with little support, and an environment of clear expectations and demands help the development of bulimia.
Likewise, genetic factors appear to play a role: Bulimic patients are three to four times more likely to get sick in sisters, mothers or daughters.
How do you know if you have bulimia?
Bulimia does not occur in just one day. It is very important for victims to seek help early, as cessation of the disease essentially depends on the rapid start of treatment.
Symptoms of the onset of an eating disorder may include:
- Dissatisfaction with one’s own eating behavior
- Worrying about the person’s weight and diet
- Worrying about the person’s body
- Eating secretly
- Vomiting or eating fits
Often the family doctor is consulted first. Whether the victim has a bulimia can only be revealed after a comprehensive diagnosis by a specialist physician or psychotherapist. For this, besides a detailed physical examination, a detailed interview about the patient’s eating behavior and countermeasures is also made.
According to the examination result, it is decided which treatment method will be recommended.
Basically, it is considered that the earlier bulimia is diagnosed, the higher the chance of successful treatment.
How is bulimia treated?
Psychotherapy based on cognitive behavioral therapy has been observed to be particularly effective. If behavioral therapy is not possible, a treatment according to the psychodynamic approach may also be considered. Approximately one in three bulimic patients can be cured permanently with psychotherapy. What is important is that the therapists performing the treatment have specific knowledge and significant experience in the field of eating disorders. Patients’ relatives are included in the therapy from time to time, mostly in younger patients, with the opinions of patients.
In outpatient psychotherapy, victims usually have weekly meetings with the psychotherapist. In some cases, it may be meaningful to take medication in order to complete the treatment in agreement with the treating physician.
If outpatient treatment alone is not sufficient, inpatient care in a specialized department of a hospital is recommended.
If it is difficult to contact a psychotherapist or a clinic, victims can contact a specialized counseling center. The staff of the counseling centers provide information about the symptoms of the disease and various treatment options and provide the necessary addresses.
What can friends and relatives of the patient do?
When symptoms of bulimia are seen, it is helpful to speak openly but prudently about it. In doing so, there is also the possibility that the victim may deny everything and not be ready to talk about it. Despite this, it is recommended to continue to raise the subject. The important thing here is to avoid showing impatience and too much emotion, but instead standing in front of people with bulimia in a way that supports them.
As the partner, parent or friend of the patient, you are needed. However, it is important not to tire yourself. Victims’ relatives can also apply to counseling centers for eating disorders, family physicians, specialist physicians and psychotherapists.
