Publish 16 December 2021
Binging and purging to maintain a comfortable appearance is not a strategy. It is a health problem.
Overeating is Not Cool
In the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke, the character played by Paul Newman makes a bet to consume 50 hardboiled eggs in one hour. That’s not a challenge to you. It’s only a movie! Attempts to replicate this in real life have resulted in death. [1] Overeating contests with everything from hot dogs to pies have claimed victims. Even excessive water is toxic.
To bait customers, some restaurants offer a humungous meal for free to anyone who can eat the entire plate. The restaurant managers have already calculated the slim odds of anyone consuming it.
The average stomach capacity when full is about 1–1.5 liters (≥1 quart). Fifty boiled eggs is around three liters. Do the math. Eating a volume of food that significantly exceeds stomach capacity damages internal organs. The organs might stretch and rupture. [2] Compromising the stomach lining can disperse harmful acid into your abdomen.
Competitive eaters warn rookies against taking up the sport. Eating more food than you can comfortably digest is unhealthy. At least one pro developed an arthritic jaw at age 29. Others have experienced serious injuries. [3]
Binge and Purge
After blocking the traditional food exit and stretching your stomach beyond capacity, your body has one other means of relief—up through the esophagus. Stomach acids can burn the esophageal lining. Puking, or vomiting, is a disqualification during competition. But while training, it may be necessary.
There is a group of non-competitive eaters who frequently binge and purge. They have a medical condition called bulimia nervosa. In their minds, food causes weight gain that makes them look unattractive.
Some bulimics eat specific color foods like orange carrots or red beets as markers. During purges, this allows them to track which meals exit.
Bulimics may enjoy indulgent foods without evidence of calorie consumption. An individual with bulimia might eat among friends or family to give the appearance of normalcy.
She might prefer to eat alone in her room. She may feel that she can derive some nutrition from the brief time food is in her stomach. The bulimic might even be you.
Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa [4]
- Complains about body image
- Binge eating episodes
- Withdraws after meals
- Avoids communal eating
- Hides food in strange places
- Self-induced vomiting
- Smells like vomit
- Laxative and diuretic misuse
- Guilt or shame eating
- Depression
- Irritability
- Knuckle and hand scars
- Edema
- Puffy cheeks
- Significant weight fluctuation
- Drinks excessive water
- Bloating from fluid retention
Purging Yourself of Bulimia
Stomach acid is too strong for the esophagus. So frequent vomiting weakens it. This can make swallowing painful. The acids also erode teeth. As a bulimic, you might resort to laxatives and enemas. What begins as an emotional or self-esteem issue becomes a gastrointestinal problem.
An altered perception of what constitutes normal weight drives food binges.
Often bulimia is combined with external disorders like nail biting (onychophagy), hair pulling (trichotillomania), or cutting. So if you’re bulimic, you’re damaging yourself from the inside out.
As a method of prevention and recovery, develop a healthy attitude toward eating. Expand perceptions of so-called ideal body shape size and weight.
People can be cruel, even unintentionally. Bullying and body shaming may lead to eating disorders. Life is not a competition to see who is the thinnest or most attractive. There is enough variety among mankind for all to enjoy. Keep your body healthy, no matter the size, with physical fitness. Develop a sense of humor. When others laugh, laugh with them.
Bulimia nervosa is more than a bad habit. It is a life-threatening mental and physical issue. Available clinical data reveal that 50–75% of patients who receive treatment for bulimia nervosa achieve successful remission. [5] So get help to find a balance between overeating and not eating enough.
Choose healthy foods and leave them in your system long enough to derive nutritional benefits. Keep a journal of your progress. Remember, purging is a disqualification, not just in competitive eating. It is a disqualification for a long healthy life.
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To support the writing of useful articles about nutrition, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about nutrition. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about nutrition by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation.
