Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over these same episodes. This binge eating is followed by behavior that compensates for overeating, such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise or a combination of these behaviors.
Unlike anorexia nervosa, people with bulimia nervosa generally maintain what is considered a healthy or normal weight, while some are slightly overweight. As people with anorexia nervosa, they often dread gaining weight, desperately want to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with the size and shape of the body. Usually, bulimic behavior is done secretly because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame. The cycle of binge eating and purging occurs anywhere, several times a week, many times a day.
Other symptoms include:
– Chronic and inflamed throat pain
– Swollen salivary glands in the neck and jaw
– Enamel of spent teeth, increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth as a result of exposure to stomach acid
– Acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems
– Intestinal discomfort and irritation of laxative abuse
– Severe fluid drainage dehydration
– Electrolyte imbalance (very low or very high levels of sodium, calcium, potassium and other minerals) that can lead to heart attack.
What are the different types of Eating Disorders?
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating disorder