Characteristic of the bulimia

Their essential characteristic consists in that the person suffers episodes of compulsive gorging, followed by a great feeling of guilt and sensation of control loss. It usually alternates with fast episodes or of very little ingesta of foods, but at the little time they suffer episodes of compulsive ingestas again. [2]

A gorging consists on ingesting at one time inferior at two hours a quantity of very superior food to which most of individuals would eat.

The individuals with this dysfunction feel very embarrassed of their behavior and they try to hide the symptoms. The gorging are carried out undercover or him more underhandedly possible. The episodes usually plan previously and they are characterized (although not always) for a quick food ingesta.

Another essential characteristic of this dysfunction constitutes it the inappropriate compensatory behaviors to avoid the gain of weight. Many individuals use different means to try to compensate the gorging: the most habitual is the provocation of the vomit. This purge method (recurrent patterns of excessive ingestion of foods and purges) they use it 80-90 percent of the fellows that you/they go to clinical centers to receive treatment. The immediate effects of vomiting consist on the immediate disappearance of the physical uneasiness and the decrease of the fear to win weight. Other purge behaviors are: the excessive use of laxatives and of diuretics, enemas, realization of very intense physical exercise and I fast.

Bulimia types

In function of the purge type that they use to compensate the gorging, we have:

* Purgative type: when it is used as compensatory behavior the vomit (emesis), the laxatives, the diuretics, enemas, ipecacuana syrup or even the teniasis, (infestación for Tænia solium), to eliminate the food of the organism as soon as possible. [6]

* Non purgative type: Between 6% and 8% of the cases of bulimia they are carried out other compensatory behaviors, as the intense physical exercise or anything is not made or a lot of fast is made; it is a less effective method to counteract and to come undone of the calories. The non purgative type occurs alone in, approximately, 6%-8% of the cases of bulimia, since it is a less effective method of eliminating of the organism a number so high of calories. This bulimia type usually presents also in those who present the purgative type, but it is a secondary form of control of the weight.