| Bulimia nervosa, generally known as bulimia, is a | | | | Womens Health at the MIT Clinical Research Center |
| psychologically stirred eating disorder whereby a | | | | (CRC), spent 17 years studying the correlation |
| person experiences regular phases of binge eating | | | | between food, mood and brain chemistry. Relying on |
| (overeating) which is followed by a compensatory | | | | her comprehensive study, she remarked that |
| act like purging, fasting or exercise. Bulimia tends to | | | | biochemical differences are prevalent between people |
| affect young women more frequently and is | | | | who binge and who do not binge. On the basis of this |
| stimulated by psychological concerns like lack of | | | | finding, she asserts that it is essential to target this |
| control, self-esteem etc. It is potentially harmful and | | | | difference for the treatment of bulimia. In this |
| can lead to several health-related issues like | | | | manner, bulimic people can be helped to get rid of |
| dehydration, malnutrition, insomnia, diabetes, anemia, | | | | their self-esteem, guilt and anxiety issues. |
| arthritis, depression, hypertension and many others. | | | | Dr. Wurtman bases her theory on the consumption |
| Although bulimia is hard to diagnose during the early | | | | of carbohydrates and starchy foods; she says that |
| stages, it should be dealt with immediately and | | | | serotonin can be produced in the brain when |
| regularly to ensure a speedy and permanent | | | | carbohydrate-rich foods are eaten. Certain people |
| recovery. It is essential to treat bulimia such that its | | | | have the habit of eating sweet and starchy foods |
| symptoms do not return with time; this requires the | | | | when they are tensed or anxious; they do this in an |
| careful consideration and selection of the most | | | | attempt to self-medicate. Similarly, moods can greatly |
| effective treatment method among several like | | | | be regulated by achieving a serotonin balance in the |
| self-recovery, therapy, anti-psychotics, inpatient | | | | brain which is possible with the consumption of |
| programs and anonymous centers. | | | | carbohydrates. |
| A recent study was conducted on the influence on | | | | Serotonin, in this manner, forces the individual to take |
| brain chemicals on our moods. According to this | | | | in carbohydrates and this helps to regain composure; |
| study, an irregular level of a brain chemical called | | | | Dr. Wurtman expresses this in simple words. She said |
| serotonin is primarily responsible for causing bulimia. | | | | that when produced in sufficient quantity, serotonin |
| Serotonin causes our bodies to rely on external | | | | makes people feel less anxious, less depressed, more |
| sources for its supply; as a result, one may binge on | | | | alert, more emotionally stable. But, on the other hand, |
| the available food to quench this desire. | | | | when it is not available in sufficient quantities in the |
| Although antidepressants are available that help to | | | | brain, it sets up feelings of emotional discomfort, |
| balance out the levels of serotonin, its side-effects | | | | depressed feelings, anxiety, inability to focus, and an |
| make it a less preferred alternative. | | | | irresistible craving to eat sweet and starchy foods. |
| Dr. Judith Wurtman, the director of the Program in | | | | |