A Brief Overview Of Eating Disorders

Bulimia Nervosa

Similar to anorexia, those with bulimia nervosa, also called bulimia, have an intense preoccupation with weight and weight gain. However, those with bulimia deal with this preoccupation by going through a cycle of binge eating followed by purging. This means a patient will eat an inordinate amount of food and then engage in behaviors such as self-induced vomiting or consuming laxatives to purge and prevent their body from absorbing the calories. They also tend to feel out of control during the binge eating episodes and cannot regulate what or how much they consume.

Behavioral symptoms include going to the bathroom right after eating, feeling uncomfortable eating in public, drinking an excessive amount of water, frequent diets, purchasing a lot of laxatives or diuretics for no other discernable reason, hiding body with baggy clothes, and chewing a lot of gum. Bulimia has some of the same physical symptoms as anorexia, such as dizziness or fainting, thinning hair, dry and brittle nails, and menstrual cycle irregularities. Those suffering from bulimia also have frequent and noticeable weight fluctuations, were their weight continually goes up and down. Dental issues such as enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity are also common in bulimia, especially when the individual purges using self-induced vomiting.

Continue reading to learn the basics about binge eating disorder.