Distorted Perception of Weight – Bulimia

Being and feeling accepted has always been a top priority for most people. Feeling accepted by others can have a calming and beneficial effect over ones psychological state of mind. Not feeling accepted and most of all not accepting oneself can lead to certain problems like eating disorders.

A distorted perception of weight occurs when a person looks at itself and sees a distorted image of themselves, an image they don’t like. They see themselves as being overweight and amplify that thought until it becomes a problem. People might try to control their weight problem even if they don’t have one by becoming bulimic. Bulimia can affect both men and women, but it is more common for women.

Bulimia also known as bulimia nervosa is characterized by binge eating, which means that a person will rapidly eat large amounts of food at one meal, larger amounts than a person could eat regularly. Bulimics often try to compensate for their binge eating and calorie intake by inducing vomit, abusing of laxatives and diuretics and excessive exercising. The purging episode will be followed again by binge eating and then again by purging, making it a constant repeating cycle.

Bulimics feel that they just can’t stop eating and will not care what they eat. They will not admit they have a problem and and will usually try to hide it. This makes it difficult for people to notice any problems so here are the signs you should check for if you suspect someone to be bulimic:

uncontrollable eating

vomiting

using laxatives or diuretics too often

constantly going to the bathroom after every meal

weight obsession

irregular menstrual cycles

tooth decay

enlarged neck glands

dehydration

paleness and exhausted look

Also check for scars on the knuckles which can be due to the self induced vomiting. The teeth might scratch the knuckles as the fingers are forced down the throat.

The exact cause of bulimia is not known but it is believed to be influenced by genetics, depression and social environment. Treatment is necessary for bulimia and people who are discovered to be bulimic as soon as possible have a higher chance of recovering completely. Bulimia can be treated by psychiatrists or psychologists without hospitalization, unless it is required.

So get help if you are bulimic or if you know someone who is bulimic to avoid developing serious health problems like heart attacks, stomach ulcer and ruptures, irregular hear beats, etc.