The topic of mental health is a complex and challenging one. It has been given a great deal of attention in recent years, more than at any other time in human history. While this has resulted in more readily available treatment for specific conditions from a medical standpoint and more support and understanding from society in general, it can still be incredibly difficult to admit that you are dealing with a mental health condition.
When it comes to eating disorders, in particular, there are still some prevalent stigmas and complex underlying issues that can make it difficult to come forward and admit that you are struggling with such a condition. Nevertheless, conditions like bulimia are a major problem among young people and adolescents in particular and should be addressed in the most understanding and supportive manner possible.
In order to help bring about a greater understanding of the condition, here are three important facts about bulimia in particular that are important for everyone to be aware of.
1) Men Are Affected Too
It is commonly thought that only women struggle with eating disorders like bulimia. While the prevalence of the condition among women is much, much higher than it is in men, that doesn’t mean that men don’t suffer from bulimia too. In fact, about 5-10% of patients who suffer from bulimia are men.
Furthermore, bulimia is more commonly seen in men than other eating disorders like anorexia. Although the pressures that men face both internally and from society to look a certain way are different than those that women are up against, they can still be enough to result in unhealthy weight control tactics like bulimia.
Thankfully, there are treatment options available to men for bulimia, such as those found at edentreatment.com.
2) Someone With a Normal Weight Might Still Have Bulimia
When many people imagine an eating disorder, they commonly think of an individual who is drastically underweight and visibly unhealthy. While this is surely the case for many who struggle with an eating disorder, there are also a number of individuals who have bulimia and who appear to be of normal weight.
The fact is that such a person might not have achieved a normal-looking weight in a healthy manner. They could have used tactics like bulimia in order to achieve that weight. This can make it more difficult to ascertain whether or not a person is struggling with an eating disorder at all.
Read Also: What Should I Do If I’m in a Car Accident While Pregnant?
3) It Can Affect Reproductive Health
Among the many negative repercussions that a condition like bulimia can have on one’s physical health and wellbeing is that of the side effects on reproductive health. Bulimia results in the body not getting enough nutrition to function properly.
This can result in irregular or the halting of the menstrual cycle, a condition called amenorrhea, in women as well as complications in pregnancy. In pregnancy, the body has even more nutritional demands. Therefore, if a woman is experiencing active bulimia in pregnancy, the results can be detrimental.
