Vomiting self-induced

Although those with bulimia usually maintain a relatively normal body weight, there are nonetheless telltale physical signs of their aberrant eating behavior (see Table 7.7). Specific to BN are dental erosion, chubby cheeks from enlargement of the parotid salivary glands, and abrasions on the back of one hand from repetitive self-induced vomiting. 

In the AN patients who engage in self-induced vomiting or abuse laxatives and diuretics, hypokalemic alkalosis may develop. These patients often have elevated serum bicarbonate, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia. 

B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications fasting or excessive exercise... 

Purging type during the current episode of BN, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas... 

Long-term follow-up research has shown that about one-fourth of AN patients will recover and the rest will have either partial or no improvement. Mortality rates at 10 years are 6.6% and at 30 years are 18%-20% after presentation for treatment (Theander, 1985 Eckert et ah, 1995). Most follow-up studies of AN show patients with an earlier age onset (under age 18) to have a better chance of recovery. Purging behavior, self-induced vomiting, and laxative abuse are usually predictive of a worse outcome (Eckert et ah, 1995). 

Calluses on dorsum of hand Self-induced vomiting with hand Hypercholesterolemia Starvation... 

Bulimics suffer binges of overeating followed by self-induced vomiting to avoid gaining weight. 

Regular use of self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, or vigorous exercise to prevent weight gain. 

Patients binge eat and stop when they have abdominal pain or self-induced vomiting or are interrupted by another individual. 

Russell s sign—Callus on dorsum of the hand secondary to self-induced vomiting. 

The major symptom and consequence of anorexia nervosa is emaciation resulting from an obsessive pursuit of thinness. The body image, the mental idea a person has of his or her body, is distorted. There s an intense fear of gaining weight. One consequence in females is a cessation of menstruation. Weight loss occurs by extreme dieting, by excessive exercise, by self-induced vomiting, and by the use of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. 

Some bulimarectics gorge themselves four to five times a week and they always follow each eating binge by self induced vomiting or heavy use of laxatives. They have chosen this way to handle stress, just as alcoholics use alcohol. 

Anorexia nervosa is a disease affecting mainly young girls, characterized by the patients lack of appetite and preoccupation with food that makes them lose weight by minimizing their caloric intake and by excessive physical activity. Sometimes it is as.sociated with bulimia, characterized by overeating followed by self-induced vomiting. 

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