Bulimia and anorexia: how to recognize and neutralize

There is no greater joy for a woman than when choosing clothes in a store and asking the seller to bring the smallest size. Clothing size, the arrow on the scale, a measuring tape indicating body volume - all these are symbolic signs that are of great importance for women. It’s very easy to get caught up in these numbers and indicators. Starting with regular weight loss, women can develop diseases such as bulimia and anorexia. Let’s try to understand the causes and consequences of these diseases in more detail.

The desire to be slim, to wear clothes that you like, and not those that hide body flaws, to proudly show off a flat tummy on the beach - this is what drives women in an attempt to lose weight at any cost. And loss of health, although it remains a significant reason, fades into the background compared to the indicator on the scales.

There comes a moment when you can no longer stop, everything seems to be far from ideal, and for some reason everyone around you insists that you no longer need to lose weight. But what can these envious people know? And you begin to hide the fact that a glass of water replaces your breakfast and dinner. Or you ostentatiously eat three servings of dessert in a cafe, and then sneak to the toilet to get rid of what you ate. And the worst thing is that you don’t want to talk about it, it’s your choice to eat the way you want. But this is the crux of the problem. If the very thought of telling someone about your eating habits terrifies you, this is a sure sign of illness.

The main cause of both bulimia and anorexia is a rejection of one's body. And not so much the body, but yourself in this body. This is a problem of a psychological nature: no matter how much you lose weight or gain weight, no matter how much you do plastic surgery, don’t change your appearance, you will always be dissatisfied with yourself if you don’t accept, love and don’t want to love yourself. Therefore, in order to prevent the development of all kinds of ailments, you need to work first of all on your internal state, and through proper nutrition and moderate physical activity, keep your body in shape.

There are a number of factors that contribute to eating disorders. Firstly, it is heredity. If someone close to you suffered from mental disorders, depression or addictions (alcohol, drugs, food), the likelihood of getting sick is much higher. The second factor is social. Society has formed the opinion that behind a beautiful appearance there is necessarily success, fame and pleasure, which is not always true. Peculiarities of upbringing also have an impact: as a rule, girls suffering from eating disorders are united by the desire for perfection, perfectionism, and “excellent student syndrome.” The desire to be the best, that is, the thinnest, is triggered.

A woman with eating disorders cannot and does not want to see the problem. Below are the symptoms and signs of diseases such as bulimia and anorexia. Take this short test, noting the signs that you may observe in yourself or your loved ones. Perhaps this will be a reason to think about whether everything is okay with you.

Bulimia

A victim of bulimia may not be immediately recognizable in a crowd. As a rule, the weight of a patient with bulimia is either normal, or the person may be prone to obesity.

Behavior

1. Constant preoccupation with food (constant conversations about weight, calories and diets).

2. Gluttony, compulsive eating, tendency to hide food.

3. Fear of getting better.

4. Avoiding places such as restaurants or events where there is a social obligation to eat.

5. Visiting the toilet immediately after eating.

6. Artificially induced vomiting, use of laxatives.

7. The use of pharmacological agents for weight loss.

8. Strict constant diets.

9. Addiction to sweeteners.

Physiological signs

1. Swelling of the parotid gland.

2. Rare hemorrhages of small blood vessels on the face and under the eyes.

3. Chronic irritation in the throat area.

4. Fatigue and pain in the m