Do Not Purge to Overcome a Binge Eating Disorder

An attempt to erase the consequences of a binge by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, or even exercising excessively. People with bulimia who binge and then purge on a regular basis may actually feel "cleansed" after purging. But the good feeling doesn't last long, because regular purging is an extremely dangerous thing to do.

Have you ever known someone who was desperate for a quick and easy way to lose weight or to avoid gaining weight? Many people are. They care about their physical appearance and feel they have to be thin to be attractive. Perhaps they work hard to stay thin or perhaps it comes naturally. Either way, they find the thought of being fat repulsive. Yet they are tempted by fattening foods and tasty dishes: the bacon their mother cooks for breakfast, pizza in the cafeteria, fries and milkshakes at a fast-food restaurant on the way home from school, candy and chips in a vending machine.

Temptation is everywhere. Some may give in to it from time to time. Perhaps they find that once they start eating, they can't stop. What happens next? Unfortunately, for a few people, the solution is purging. They find ways to rid their body of all those calories and start over. It seems like magic and seems so much easier than avoiding the junk food or dieting.

IDENTIFYING BEHAVIORS

People purge by vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or exercising obsessively. Any one of these behaviors can take a serious toll on the body. People who make themselves vomit often reach a point where they don't have to do anything to vomit but think about it. In fact, in some cases, vomiting becomes an uncontrollable response. People who binge and then vomit may even choose what to eat based on which foods are easiest to bring back up.

Other people use Ipecac syrup to make themselves vomit. Ipecac syrup is a thick liquid that many parents keep on hand as a safety precaution. They use it to induce vomiting if their child ingests a poisonous substance. However, when the syrup is abused, it can damage the heart or skeletal muscles. It can even cause sudden death.

Chronic vomiting brings up stomach acid, which can cause serious tooth decay, swollen salivary glands (which resemble a chipmunk's puffed-out cheeks) and the loss of a dangerous amount of potassium. A low potassium level can result in fatal heart problems. Vomiting can also damage the stomach and kidneys. Stomach pain may become constant.

Abusing laxatives and diuretics also has side effects, including severe cramps, dehydration (loss or lack of liquid in the body), and bowel dysfunction. Ironically, laxatives and diuretics are not effective ways of ridding the body of unwanted fat. They simply rid the body of water weight.

Fasting is yet another way of abusing the body. It, too, can lead to dehydration, lethargy (lack of energy), lightheadedness, and kidney damage. Extreme exercise can also be a form of purging, one that not only causes dehydration but also broken bones, torn ligaments, joint problems, osteoporosis (progressive loss of bone density), muscle damage, and even heart and kidney failure.

It can be hard to determine if a friend or relative is using one or more of these methods to purge. People who purge generally hide what they are doing and lie about it. Moreover, if they're bingeing and purging, they may be maintaining the same weight-making it even harder to detect a problem.

One way to identify someone who purges is by paying attention to everyday actions. People who purge often become so obsessed with when, where, and how to purge that they alienate friends and family and withdraw from everyday activities.