Binge, bulimia, vomiting and self -esteem

The essential manifestations of bulimia nervosa are: presence of binge and inappropriate compensatory methods to prevent the consequent weight gain.

In addition, self -esteem levels are excessively conditioned by body shape and weight in subjects with bulimia nervosa.

To justify the diagnosis, the subject must have a minimum of two episodes of binge and compensatory behaviors inappropriate per week for at least three months.

What is a bulimic crisis?

A binge, or bulimic crisis, is defined as ingestion of a greater amount of food for a specific period of time than most people would consume in similar circumstances.

Each episode of binge.

The continuous "nibbler" of small amounts of food during the day cannot be considered a binge. Although the type of food consumed during binge varies greatly, it usually includes sweet foods with high caloric content, such as ice cream or cakes.

Anyway, what seems to characterize the binge is above all the anomaly in the amount of food rather than the compulsion towards a specific food, for example, carbohydrates.

Although the total amount of calories consumed during binge is much greater than the normal food of a person without bulimia nervous.

Main characteristics of bulimia nervosa

People with Bulimia Nervosa They usually feel ashamed of their pathological eating habits and try to hide them.

Bullysic crises occur in solitude: as secretly as possible. The episode can be more or less planned and is usually characterized (although not always) by the speed of food ingestion. The binge often continues until the individual feels "so full that he is sick", and is precipitated by dysphoric moods, interpersonal conditions of stress, intense hunger after a dietary restriction or for feelings of dissatisfaction with weight, the body or food shape. During the binge there may be a transient reduction of dysphoria, but often followed by a depressed mood and a ruthless self -criticism.

A bulimic crisis is also accompanied by a feeling of control loss.

An individual can experience a sensation of alienation during binge, especially in the early stages of the disorder: some refer to binge as a kind of desire experience. In the last stages of bulimia nervosa, the subjective sensation of acute control of control during the crisis may disappear. Manifests itself as a inability to resist the impulse of the crisis or stop it once it has begun.

Another essential characteristic of Bulimia Nervosa is the Frequent use of compensatory behaviors inappropriate to prevent weight gain. Many people with bulimia nervosa carry out various behaviors aimed at neutralizing the effects of the binge: among the methods, the most adopted is the Vomiting self -induction after binge. This elimination behavior is present in 80-90% of the subjects with nervous bulimia treated in specialized centers in eating disorders. Vomiting reduces the sensation of physical discomfort, as well as the fear of gaining weight.

In some cases, vomit represents the desired effect: the person is stacked to vomit, or vomits even for small amounts of food.

People with Bulimia nervosa can use several tricks to induce vomit, such as using fingers or other tools to trigger the nauseous reflex when stimulating pharynx. Generally, In the advanced stages of the disorder, these subjects can vomit when they are ordered.

Other elimination behaviors are represented by the inadequate use of laxatives and diuretics; The use of laxatives is present in a third of the subjects with bulimia nervosa.

Other compensatory measures for binge are fasting during the next few days or excessive exercise.

Physical activity is considered excessive when interferes with other important activities, when it occurs in unusual moments or places or when practiced despite bad physical conditions.

The terror of gaining weight, the desire to lose weight, the level of dissatisfaction with physical appearance is comparable to that of subjects with anorexia nervosa. In any case, the diagnosis of Bulimia nervosa is not justified if the disorder occurs exclusively during anorexia nervous episodes.