Does Throwing Up Make You Lose Weight – Here is a Shocking TRUTH.
Many people have been told that throwing up regularly can help them lose weight and that it is very effective.
However, the truth is that this is a very serious eating disorder.
Some people eat a large amount of food in a short amount of time just so they can purge it out and “lose” calories.
This is a very unhealthy way to lose those extra calories and it has more disadvantages than advantages.
Also, some people take it as far as creating a complete diet of excessive exercise and using laxatives and pills.
This is a very harmful cycle as eating and vomiting can affect your health both physically and mentally.
This method is a bad way to lose weight and studies have shown that people who engage in this end up gaining weight over time instead of losing it.
Your body begins to absorb calories the moment you put any food in your mouth and if you vomit right after you eat a large meal, you will only end up eliminating less than 50% of the total calories you took in.
While vomiting may make it seem like you’re losing weight, most times you’re only losing water weight and that is not true fat loss.
This eating disorder is called Bulimia.
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Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia:
The common symptoms may vary but below are some to pay attention to;
1. Eating large amounts of food and Vomiting after each meal.
2. Being unable to control your eating habits.
3. Use laxatives or other pills after you eat even when they are not needed.
4. Exercising and Dieting excessively.
5. Going through irregular weight changes.
6. Displaying physical changes caused by vomiting, such as bad breath, damaged teeth, swelling around the cheeks, broken blood vessels in the eyes, or calluses on the knuckles (from gagging).
7. Feeling overly bloated and constipated.
8. Being excessively concerned with your body weight.
9. Making use of dietary supplements excessively and incorrectly.
10. Always feeling tired and weak.
Causes and Risk Factors of Bulimia
There are several causes of bulimia. Your family history, mental health status, self-esteem, your genes are all reasons why you may suffer from this condition.
Some other factors which may cause this condition in a person include:
- Experiencing stressful life changes.
- Having a history of substance abuse.
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders can also lead to Bulimia.
- Suffering from trauma or abuse and also suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
How Is Bulimia Diagnosed?
If you find yourself binge eating regularly or you are using laxatives, or other harmful drugs to induce vomiting so you can lose weight, you should visit a doctor for help.
This behaviour may occur once every week, or month or even once in three months but if you carry out these activities, you should see a doctor.
Don’t miss this; Why Am I Not Losing Weight in a Calorie Deficit – 5 Reasons & What To Do.
When to See a Doctor About Your Condition
If you carry out these harmful activities to lose weight, you must be honest with your doctor about the methods you use and your eating habits so the best method of treatment can be administered.
This practice can cause severe damage if it is not treated on time.
Your doctor may decide to carry out a physical examination and also a psychological examination because this is also a psychological problem.
Treatment and Medication Options for this Condition:
There are different options available to help individuals with Bulimia.
Some of these treatment methods can help you achieve better eating habits, a healthy lifestyle, and also healthy weight loss.
Some of these treatments include:
Psychotherapy:
Engaging in different forms of counselling and therapy can help improve this condition.
If you talk to a mental health counsellor regularly, they can help you identify this problem and figure out the best way to eliminate it.
Also, you can talk to your family members for help as studies have shown that the presence of a family member can increase the success rate of your therapy session by 30%.
Nutritional Counselling:
You can also turn to a dietician to help you study your diet plan and help formulate the best diet plan for you as every human has a special body and different metabolism.
Hospitalization:
In severe cases, you may need to be put in a hospital until you get better.
If you are discharged you may suffer a relapse so sometimes staying in the hospital is the best choice.
This method of treatment records a 90% chance of success. Many people who undergo hospitalization come out better and they can eat and exercise in healthy ways.
Here are Some Tips for Anyone who is Currently Struggling with this Condition:
1. Avoid talking and thinking about your weight all the time.
2. Stay away from things that trigger you, it may be social media or magazines. It may even be certain people in your life. You have to figure out what these triggers are and stay away from them.
3. Focus less on your weight and pay more attention to maintaining a proper healthy lifestyle.
4. Stop measuring your weight unnecessarily as this may lead to mental health deterioration.
5. Stop using laxatives and other unhealthy weight control measures.
6. Talk to a doctor early.
Side Effects of Vomiting to Lose Weight:
This habit has serious consequences on your body and you should abstain from it.
In some cases, this habit can lead to severe complications and cause death. Some of the risks you can develop from Bulimia include:
- Chronic dehydration.
- Stomach damage or ulcer.
- Tooth decay.
- Chronic sore throat.
- Constipation, diarrhoea, and other problems may arise from irregular bowel movements.
- Infertility in both men and women.
Conclusion:
Throwing up is not a sustainable weight loss program as you have deduced from this article, it is also not a risk worth taking as there are so many health problems that can arise.
If you want to lose weight and still be healthy, carry out healthy diet plans.
Source;
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/bulimia-nervosa/mental-health-bulimia-nervosa
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bulimia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353615
