Bulimia nervosa, commonly referred to simply as bulimia, is an eating disorder that results in binging and purging. Binging refers to the act of eating a large amount of food in a short period of time, often more than what would be expected in a typical eating scenario. Purging refers to the behavior of compensation for the over-eating, such as forced vomiting, the use of laxatives and enemas, or extreme exercise. The bulimic may continue to starve themself between binges in a misguided attempt to compensate for food consumed during a binge. Bulimia can be caused by numerous factors that lead to its development including low self-esteem, depression, and a desire to be thin.
Less Common. Equally Dangerous.
Bulimia is a less common but equally dangerous eating disorder like anorexia nervosa. In bulimia, the sufferer eats abnormally large amounts of food in a short amount of time, known as binging, followed by purging in an attempt to not to gain weight. They may spend many hours each day thinking about food, what they will eat, how to go about getting it, as well as planning for purging. After purging, bulimics often feel as if they’ve already eaten as much as they should. They may eat very little for weeks following an episode of binging and purging, leading to very low body weight.
Understanding Bulimia
Bulimia can be challenging to treat if the individual is not ready to address the concerns, feels shameful about it, or does not think it is a problem. Sometimes they may cover up their low body weight with baggy clothes and hope that no one will notice. People with bulimia (45.2 %) are also more likely than anorexics (34.6%) to commit suicide (Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2013).
A common misconception about eating disorders is that people only want to be thin. Bulimia can be used as a coping skill or to feel relief from unpleasant feelings, such as anxiety, guilt, depression, or anger. They may end up feeling shame or guilt from using the behavior, which could be minimized in comparison to the desire for weight loss or control.
However, people with bulimia should remember that bulimia causes many dangerous side effects, which can lead to organ failure and death, without proper treatment. Bulimia can be treated, and asking for help can lead to recovery and a reduced risk of danger from the disorder. If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder please reach out to us here for eating disorder treatment today.
