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{ Bulimia Side Effects }
Bulimia’s side effects can be extremely harmful to a person’s health and well-being. Often times, a person struggling with an eating disorder is less concerned with the disorder’s side effects due to the condition’s overpowering nature. Bulimia is not only a serious condition in and of itself, but its side effects can also cause a series of medical complications that exacerbate the person’s life now and in the future.
Physical and Psychological Effects
In addition to the psychological impact, bulimia’s side effects can cause irreparable physical damage. Restrictive, compulsive, and weight controlling behaviors like self-induced purging and inappropriate use of laxatives or diuretics can cause a multitude of other health complications and medical conditions. Such effects include:
Physical
- Esophageal problems
- Vocal chord damage
- Stomach ulcers
- Osteoporosis
- Hair loss
- Digestive problems
- Decreased body temperature
- Irregular heart beat
- Elimination problems
- Dental Damage
- Organ damage
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- Enlarged salivary glands
- Dry skin
- Decreased bone density
- Menstrual dysfunction
- Hormone irregularities
- Insomnia
- Low red blood cell levels
- Weak muscles
- Immune system damage
Psychological
- Out of control feelings
- Mood changes
- Avoidance of others
- Constantly thinking about food
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Unable to eat with others
- Poor body-image
Other bulimia side effects include difficulty conceiving a child, a larger risk of miscarriage and premature birth after conception. Some theorize that nature requires humans and animals to be healthy themselves in order to continue to propagate a species that is capable of surviving—theory of natural selection. Bulimia side effects damage a woman’s body which can physically inhibit her from having healthy children in the future.
Laxative and Diuretic Use
It is estimated that one third of people struggling with bulimia use laxatives, and roughly 10% take diuretics. Various effects include:
Laxative abuse
- Chronic intestinal inflammation
- Chronic constipation
- Irregular bowel function
- Systemic toxicity
Diuretic abuse
- Kidney damage
- Body fluid stagnation
- Blood pressure complication