Bila Tserkva
Addresses of the Clinics
Monday-Sunday 08:30 - 20:00
Monday-Sunday 08:30 - 20:00
Kyiv, 17 Kovpaka St. (On the map)
Bila Tserkva, 191A Tarashchanska St. (On the map)
What is bulimia? How dangerous is this psychological eating disorder, and what causes a distorted perception of food? A comprehensive approach to treatment at CSM Clinic, including the author's physiotherapy method by Valerii Patonych, aims to help patients overcome this condition.
Do you notice that you eat a very large amount of food after stress, or that a loved one has started eating too much and you don't understand where the food from the refrigerator goes? Do you induce vomiting after a binge and feel angry at yourself? These signs point to an eating disorder (ED), and you need to see specialists. At CSM Clinic you can find out what bulimia is and receive treatment for this ED. To address the condition, specialists use modern and author's methods that have proven themselves and have helped many adults and children with bulimia nervosa.
Bulimia is one of the eating disorders, characterized by uncontrolled episodes of eating large amounts of food and artificially induced attempts to forcibly empty the stomach through vomiting and other means. Treatment of an ED should begin as early as possible, because in advanced cases it leads to dangerous consequences and is harder to treat.
Bulimia most often begins in adolescence and is more common in girls than in boys. Patients under 32 more often seek help from specialists; others usually come to terms with the disease, but help is possible even in such difficult cases.
Bulimia nervosa is divided into two types:
Based on how the signs of bulimia present, the ED is divided into three types:
The causes of bulimia are varied and are supported by different provoking factors and triggers that start the ED. In most patients, the perception of food is distorted, and eating is for them not a way to satisfy hunger but a tool for reducing emotional distress.
Several groups of causes of bulimia are distinguished:
Bulimic neurosis develops against a background of emotional tension and is established in the manner of an addiction. Overeating is preceded by growing sadness, anxiety, or aggression. The stronger the emotional discomfort, the more intense the hunger.
While eating, a short-term feeling of euphoria arises, after which the emotional overstrain disappears. During a bulimic episode, the person cannot control the amount of food, does not feel full, and keeps eating until bloating, nausea, and pain appear. The feeling of intoxication is replaced by feelings of guilt, self-contempt, and aggression toward oneself.
To return to the previous state, the patient induces vomiting, takes diuretics and laxatives, or resorts to exhausting physical exertion. After this "punishment," the emotional state stabilizes, but after some time the binge episode occurs again.
A bulimic episode becomes a way of regulating emotional life, and the patient perceives food as a "tool" for relieving anxiety, sadness, or other distress. This is why this ED is often compared with various addictions.
Bulimic neurosis develops over a long period. The main symptom of bulimia is episodes of overeating. The feeling of hunger arises suddenly and is triggered by internal or external factors: stress, an argument, failures, unpleasant memories. To relieve emotional discomfort, the patient eats a lot of food in a short time. Binge episodes usually happen alone. The patient chooses the most calorie-dense foods, such as side dishes with sauce and meat, cakes, and pastries. While eating, the person loses control, feels euphoria and joy, and gets a sense of relief.
During a bulimic episode, there is no feeling of fullness, and eating continues either until the food runs out or until clear signs of overeating appear, such as nausea, a feeling of bloating and heaviness in the stomach, and pain. During such a binge, the patient takes in several thousand calories, which significantly exceeds the daily requirement.
After an episode of bulimic neurosis, pleasure and relief of tension are replaced by guilt, aggression, irritation, self-hatred, and fear of gaining weight. To compensate, the patient may use various ways to get rid of what was eaten: inducing vomiting, enemas, taking diuretics and laxatives, intense exercise, or periods of fasting.
In patients with bulimia nervosa, weight is close to normal or slightly elevated. Despite this, patients are very concerned about their physical shape and appearance. They try to lose weight, but usually eat low-calorie foods only in the presence of other people. When alone, they have binge episodes and eat high-calorie foods.
Unlike patients with anorexia, patients with bulimic ED are more critical of their condition and understand that there is a problem with their eating. They feel guilty and most often admit their illness to loved ones. Bulimia is often accompanied by anxiety disorders and depression, and sometimes by impulsive behavior or substance use, so comprehensive care is important.
Bulimia develops more often in teenagers, but this ED can also occur in younger children. Puberty is accompanied by hormonal surges that lead to an even more unstable emotional state, which is why most patients first encounter bulimia in adolescence. Episodes can be triggered by an unsuccessful first crush, conflicts with peers, parents, or teachers, and worries about the future. In younger children, bulimia is more often caused by conflict situations in the family, parents' excessive concern about the child's eating, or an unhealthy attitude toward food in the family.
Symptoms of the disease in children from 11 years of age, teenagers, and adults are the same. In children under 11 with bulimia, very picky eating is observed. In addition, it is harder for children to hide episodes of overeating, and parents and other adults notice them earlier.
The likelihood of complications of bulimic ED is higher in children and teenagers, because the psyche and body are not yet fully formed. For patients aged 11 and older, the same treatment methods are used as for bulimia in adults. If the ED develops at an earlier age, treatment is carried out through active work of specialists with the child's parents.
The consequences of bulimia develop gradually as the disease progresses. They include the following disorders and diseases:
To identify the disease, a psychiatrist talks with the patient or relatives to obtain data about symptoms and history. Bioimpedance analysis and specific diagnostic questionnaires are used to diagnose the ED. Differential diagnosis is carried out with gastrointestinal diseases involving recurrent vomiting and with psychopathological personality disorders.
To identify and treat the consequences of bulimia, the patient is prescribed laboratory tests, instrumental examinations, and consultations with a cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, dentist, and other specialists.
A comprehensive approach is used in the treatment of bulimia. In addition to a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a dietitian take part in therapy. If needed, doctors of other specialties join in treating the complications of the ED. In most cases, hospitalization is not required. Therapeutic measures aim to restore normal appetite and attitude toward food, eliminate behavioral attempts to purge the stomach and bowels, and stabilize the somatic and emotional state.
The treatment plan usually includes the following methods of treating bulimia nervosa:
At CSM Clinic, patients can take a course of treatment using the author's method by Valerii Patonych, a specialist in ED therapy. The physiotherapy program is suitable for children and adults. Previously, this author's method was used in the Revocanda plus psychological centers. It is reported to have worked well, as its use aims to address not only the symptoms of bulimia but the ED itself.
During treatment with this method, the patient gets a personal consultant who provides the understanding and support they need. According to the Revocanda centers, many people who completed the program reported lasting improvement.
For recovery after bulimia, an individual rehabilitation course is developed for each patient. Its duration depends on the nature and severity of the consequences of the ED.
For recovery, vitamin and mineral complexes and medications to support immunity and to stabilize the function of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs and systems are prescribed. The work is carried out by doctors of different specialties under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
To prevent bulimia, it is necessary to:
Do you want to take a course of treatment for an ED and are looking for experienced specialists? You can book an appointment with experienced psychologists, dietitians, and doctors of related specialties by calling CSM Clinic or by filling out the online appointment form or callback request on the website. Contact us, and we will help you leave bulimia in the past.
