Knowing when to hospitalize a bulimic is very important in stabilizing a sufferer's health or in some cases, even in saving her life. Bulimia is an eating disorder that is typically found in females. The condition usually emerges in the teen years and may not be detected or apparent until the 30's or 40's. It is characterized by a person eating huge amounts of food within a short period of time. A 'binge' usually occurs within a 2 or 3 hour period of time when as much as 3, 000 or more calories can be consumed. Since bulimics also have a distorted view of their self-image, they are driven to purge the quickly ingested calories by inducing vomiting or taking laxatives. Some patients have admitted to purging up to 20 times a day in an attempt to rid themselves of the unwanted fat associated with their binging. The causes of the disorder as well as how to prevent becoming bulimic are not totally understood by the medical community.
Unfortunately, those who suffer with bulimia are quite adept at keeping their condition a secret and parents or other family members may not be aware of the eating disorder. This makes it hard to know when to hospitalize a bulimic. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) Some general symptoms that are apparent in people with the disorder include weight changes that may often occur, depression, frequent dieting, using unusually large amounts of laxatives, vomiting, and eating in secret with a predilection for easily secured foods. A person who suffers with bulimia is generally obsessed with attempting to keep their weight down, yet they feel driven to eat. This can cause them to gain weight and then drop it very often.
The cycle of gaining and loosing is very unhealthy for a person as well as stressful emotionally. Driven by a desire to remain or become thin, the sufferer often purges, but feels guilty and depressed afterwards. It is suggested that one of the first places to start with a young child in how to prevent becoming bulimic is to provide full affirmation about their sense of image and worth. The secretive nature of the disorder lends to the fact that a person is aware of their unhealthy feelings and actions, but they are unable to control them. When bulimics binge, it is usually through fast foods or easily found pre-packaged foods. Whatever is at hand will do, and if nothing is available, some people spend excessive amounts of money to quickly purchase foods for an hour or two of binging.
Other symptoms of the condition are gastric disturbances since constant vomiting upsets the potassium level and other nutrients in the body. The results are damage to the stomach, esophagus, gums and teeth as well as heart damage, excessive fatigue, loss of bone density and even rashes on the skin. The loss of necessary nutrients through constant binging and purging can put many people at risk for death. The body organs can grow weaker and actually shut down as a result of the disorder. There are several ways to treat the disorder, depending on the severity. Sometimes outpatient therapy can be quite effective while hospitalization is the necessary choice for others. Medical professionals usually can advise when to hospitalize a bulimic after a person is diagnosed with the condition. There have been cases, however, when a sufferer was able to hide the disorder so well that she fainted or started bleeding from the stomach before ever receiving medical attention.
Eating disorders are on the rise throughout the country, causing serious concerns for parents. As mentioned earlier, understanding about how to prevent becoming bulimic is very difficult. Even though there are no absolutes in understanding what actually causes the condition, there are some insights gleaned from professionals that can be helpful. By and large, patients who suffer with the disorder seem to come from homes where there are perfectionist tendencies either in the parents or the patients. Sometimes an unusual stress can cause the onset such as a traumatic move, change of school, or physical growth in puberty.
The disorder is also associated with anorexia nervosa. Many times, those who have that condition will progress into bulimia. Some tips on how to prevent becoming bulimic for parents include: parent a child through an environment of unconditional love; do not emphasize good looks or accomplishments as the most important thing in life; monitor stressful times in a child's life so as to alleviate it if possible; put an emphasis on overall good health that includes a sensible diet, exercise and enjoyable activities. Parents should never make weight a major issue unless there is obviously a problem with abnormal weight gain. The less self-conscious a child feels while growing up, the more likely she will have a better personal perception about herself. For parents who care, it is much more effective to connect with and understand a child when she is young if possible, rather than wondering when to hospitalize a bulimic when there becomes a big problem in the future.
Unfortunately, those who suffer with bulimia are quite adept at keeping their condition a secret and parents or other family members may not be aware of the eating disorder. This makes it hard to know when to hospitalize a bulimic. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1) Some general symptoms that are apparent in people with the disorder include weight changes that may often occur, depression, frequent dieting, using unusually large amounts of laxatives, vomiting, and eating in secret with a predilection for easily secured foods. A person who suffers with bulimia is generally obsessed with attempting to keep their weight down, yet they feel driven to eat. This can cause them to gain weight and then drop it very often.
The cycle of gaining and loosing is very unhealthy for a person as well as stressful emotionally. Driven by a desire to remain or become thin, the sufferer often purges, but feels guilty and depressed afterwards. It is suggested that one of the first places to start with a young child in how to prevent becoming bulimic is to provide full affirmation about their sense of image and worth. The secretive nature of the disorder lends to the fact that a person is aware of their unhealthy feelings and actions, but they are unable to control them. When bulimics binge, it is usually through fast foods or easily found pre-packaged foods. Whatever is at hand will do, and if nothing is available, some people spend excessive amounts of money to quickly purchase foods for an hour or two of binging.
Other symptoms of the condition are gastric disturbances since constant vomiting upsets the potassium level and other nutrients in the body. The results are damage to the stomach, esophagus, gums and teeth as well as heart damage, excessive fatigue, loss of bone density and even rashes on the skin. The loss of necessary nutrients through constant binging and purging can put many people at risk for death. The body organs can grow weaker and actually shut down as a result of the disorder. There are several ways to treat the disorder, depending on the severity. Sometimes outpatient therapy can be quite effective while hospitalization is the necessary choice for others. Medical professionals usually can advise when to hospitalize a bulimic after a person is diagnosed with the condition. There have been cases, however, when a sufferer was able to hide the disorder so well that she fainted or started bleeding from the stomach before ever receiving medical attention.
Eating disorders are on the rise throughout the country, causing serious concerns for parents. As mentioned earlier, understanding about how to prevent becoming bulimic is very difficult. Even though there are no absolutes in understanding what actually causes the condition, there are some insights gleaned from professionals that can be helpful. By and large, patients who suffer with the disorder seem to come from homes where there are perfectionist tendencies either in the parents or the patients. Sometimes an unusual stress can cause the onset such as a traumatic move, change of school, or physical growth in puberty.
The disorder is also associated with anorexia nervosa. Many times, those who have that condition will progress into bulimia. Some tips on how to prevent becoming bulimic for parents include: parent a child through an environment of unconditional love; do not emphasize good looks or accomplishments as the most important thing in life; monitor stressful times in a child's life so as to alleviate it if possible; put an emphasis on overall good health that includes a sensible diet, exercise and enjoyable activities. Parents should never make weight a major issue unless there is obviously a problem with abnormal weight gain. The less self-conscious a child feels while growing up, the more likely she will have a better personal perception about herself. For parents who care, it is much more effective to connect with and understand a child when she is young if possible, rather than wondering when to hospitalize a bulimic when there becomes a big problem in the future.
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