What is the first goal for treatment for patients with bulimia nervosa?
The goal of treatment is to break the pattern of binge-purge behavior, correct distorted thinking patterns, and develop long-term behavioral changes. Typical treatment consists of medications plus psychological counseling and nutritional counseling.
What is an objective binge?
BACKGROUND: Objective binge eating episodes (OBEs) refer to binge eating on an unusually large amount of food and are the core symptom in current definitions of bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED).
How do you assess for bulimia?
Routine laboratory tests in patients with bulimia nervosa include a complete blood count with differential, serum chemistry and thyroid profiles, and urine chemistry microscopy testing.
What is the most significant feature of bulimia?
Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight. Living in fear of gaining weight. Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting. Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can’t stop eating or can’t control what you eat.
Is increased blood pressure a characteristic of bulimia?
A deficiency in potassium can cause reduced reflexes, tiredness and heart abnormalities. Heart problems are the leading cause of death among those with bulimia. Many experience dizziness, irregular blood pressure, and abnormal heart beat.
Why do Parotids swell in bulimia?
Because patients with bulimia typically induce vomiting multiple times a day, they are forced to produce excess amounts of saliva which causes their parotid salivary glands to become over-stimulated.
How does bulimia affect the brain?
The effects of bulimia can damage the brain’s ability to concentrate and make decisions. Those with bulimia sometimes suffer from psychological problems that can last for years and even endanger their lives. Some individuals fall into such great depression that they may become suicidal.
Does bulimia affect memory?
After reviewing the fMRI results, the researchers concluded that, compared to the women affected by a restrictive eating disorder subtype, the women affected by a binging/purging eating disorder subtype had a substantially lower level of activity in a brain area responsible for a specific form of working memory, as …
How long does bulimia teeth last?
Tooth erosion may become apparent after only six months of self-induced vomiting. Over time as the enamel is eroded by repeated exposure to gastric acid, teeth may lose their shine, break, turn yellow, wear down, chip, and look ragged.
How long does bulimia bloat last?
The bloating will typically occur within the first few days of recovery and last only for a few weeks. The vital thing for sufferers to remember is that this is a sign of healing within the body and is not permanent.