Ways to prevent bulimia nervosa from developing
The long-term outlook for recovery from bulimia is mixed. About half of all bulimics show improvement in controlling their behavior after short-term interpersonal or cognitive behavioral therapy with nutritional counseling and drug therapy.
However, after three years, only about one-third are still doing well. Relapses are common, and binge/purge episodes and bulimic behavior often comes and goes for many years. Stress seems to be a major trigger for relapse.
The sooner treatment is sought, the better the chances of recovery. Without professional intervention, recovery is unlikely.
Untreated bulimia can lead to death directly from causes such as rupture of the stomach or esophagus. Associated problems such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, and poor impulse control also contribute to the death rate.
Some ways to prevent bulimia nervosa from developing are as follows:
-If you are a parent, do not obsess about your own weight, appearance, and diet in front of your children.
-Do not tease your children about their body shapes or compare them to others.
-Make it clear that you love and accept your children as they are.
-Try to eat meals together as a family whenever possible.
-Remind children that the models they see on television and in fashion magazines have extreme, not normal or healthy bodies.
-Do not put your child on a diet unless advised to by your pediatrician.
-Block your child from visiting pro-bulimia Websites. These are sites where people with bulimia give advice on how to purge and support each other’s binge/ purge behavior.
-If your child is a competitive athlete, get to know the coach and the coach’s attitude toward weight.
-be alert to signs of low self-worth, anxiety, depression, and drug or alcohol abuse and seek help as soon as these signs appear.
-If you think your child has an eating disorder, do not wait to intervene and the professional help. The sooner the disorder is treated, the easier it is to cure.
Relapses happen to many people with bulimia. People who are recovering from bulimia can help prevent themselves from relapsing by:
-never dieting; instead plan healthy meals
-eating with other people, not alone.
-staying in treatment; keep therapy appointments
-monitoring negative self-talk; practicing positive self-talk
-spending time doing something enjoyable every day
-staying busy, but not overly busy; getting at least seven hours of sleep each night
-spending time each day with people you care about and who care about you
