Eating Disorders: Bulimia

By Live Health Africa

As a continuation to our special on Eating Disorders today Live Health Africa highlights Bulimia focusing on the symptoms, effects and treatment options. England’s National Health Service(NHS) describes bulimia as a condition in which someone tries to control their weight by binge eating and then deliberately being sick or using medication like laxatives to help empty their bowels. 

 Bulimia 101

The NHS also notes that bulimia is a mental health condition and can be associated with depression, low self-esteem, misuse of alcohol and self-harm.

 “Bulimia is around five times more common than anorexia nervosa and 90% of people with bulimia are female.,” says the NHS. “Recent studies suggest that as many as 8% of women have bulimia at some stage in their life. The condition can occur at any age, but mainly affects women aged between 16 and 40 (on average, it starts around the age of 18 or 19).”

 Like other eating disorders, Bulimia is often associated with an abnormal attitude towards food or body image. Hence, people with bulimia nervosa tend to restrict their food intake and may engage in periods of excessive eating (bingeing), followed by making themselves sick –to vomit- or use laxatives (purging).  People with bulimia purge themselves to avoid  gaining weight and often feel guilty and ashamed of their behavior hence they tend to  binge and purge in secret.

The  binge-purge cycles can be triggered by hunger or stress, or as a way to cope with emotional distress.
“Signs of bulimia nervosa include an obsessive attitude towards food and eating, an overcritical attitude to their weight and shape and frequent visits to the bathroom after eating, after which the person might appear flushed and have scarred knuckles (from forcing fingers down the throat to bring on vomiting),” says the NHS.

If one suffers from Bulimia over a long period of time their body will be deprived of vital nutrients and eventually their organs will shut-down causing death.

  Additionally, people with bulimi tend to suffer dental problems and may lose their teeth due to the acid that comes from the stomach during purging. They also tend to get heart related diseases. It is critical to seek treatment as soon as possible. One way is to get self-help books to help you deal with the condition.

 Treatment may also involve seeing a therapist or other healthcare professional, joining a self-help group, seeking dietary counseling and use of antidepressant. If you are suffering from Bulimia please seek help from the nearest health practitioner.

Eating Disorders I : Anorexia

By Live Health Africa 

The pressure to conform to societal standards and myths of beauty is driving many young girls and boys to the brink of death. Eating disorders are growing common and the result is its victims die young after years of their body enduring poor nutrition and organ shut-down.

 England’s National Health Service (NHS) describes an eating disorder as a condition characterised by an abnormal attitude towards food that causes someone to change their eating habits and behaviour. 

The US National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) states that eating disorders are complex illnesses that can be life-threatening.

“A person with an eating disorder may focus excessively on their weight and shape, leading them to make unhealthy choices about food with damaging results to their health,” says the NHS. 

The most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia and Binge Eating. Today Live Health Africa will delve deeper into Anorexia and looks at symptoms, effects and possible treatment.

Anorexia 101
Anorexia is a condition that makes someone try to keep their weight as low as possible, for example by starving themselves or exercising excessively. 

“Around one in 250 women and one in 2,000 men will experience anorexia nervosa at some point. The condition usually develops around the age of 16 or 17,” says the NHS.

This ailment may be caused by a varied of reasons including the social pressure on young people and women to be thin and other biological factors. For instance one my become anorexic after facing constant criticism  or abuse because of their weight; if they feel pressure to be slim to succeed in a career as a  dancer, models or athlete; having low self-esteem or being a perfectionist and stress caused by work or family strain.

Anorexia can be diagnosed by a doctor using the SCOFF which involves five questions:

• Sick: Do you ever make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full?
• Control: Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
• One stone: Have you recently lost more than one stone (six kilograms) in a three-month period?
• Fat: Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
• Food: Would you say that food dominates your life?

Warning signs to look out for include in people who may be suffering from anorexia include missing meals, a person complaining of being fat even though they have a normal weight, someone repeatedly weighing themselves and someone refusing to eat in public places, such as a restaurant.

If one suffers from anorexia over a long period of time their body will be deprived of vital nutrients and eventually their organs will shut-down causing death. Hence, it is critical to seek treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment may involve seeing a therapist or other healthcare professional, joining a self-help group, seeking dietary counseling and use of antidepressant. If you are suffering from Anorexia please seek help from your nearest health practitioner.

Stop Fat Shaming!

By Live Healthy Africa

In recent weeks there have been countless reports in the US and locally of people and the media describing the overweight and obese as ‘pigs’, ‘ugly’ and other abusive words. This is simply appalling and totally unfair. Not everyone is fat because they sit down all day and eat. Not everyone who is skinny is healthy!

Such bullying and vitriol aimed at people struggling with their weight is counterproductive and cannot lead to any good. Research already shows that fat shaming can lead to more weight gain since it makes people have low self esteem which makes them binge even more and exercise less.

 As a society we need to be supportive of our friends and family in their pursuit for healthy living. At the end of the day confidence is more beautiful that an eight inch waist!