Eating disorders impact a person’s dietary habits, but these mental health conditions spring from severe self-criticism and an inaccurate view of oneself. With bulimia nervosa, a person experiences a pattern of disordered eating that involves consuming massive amounts of food (binging) only to later expel the food (purging) using various methods.
While they share some similarities, bulimia and anorexia also have some differences, most notably the fact that anorexia is linked to extreme weight loss. With bulimia, a person may participate in a disordered eating cycle but still maintain a normal weight.
While bulimia involves binging, it is not the same as binge eating disorder, which involves eating large amounts of food without purging. Conversely, people with bulimia will eat large amounts, then use purging methods like vomiting and laxatives, among others.
People with bulimia often go to great lengths to conceal the disorder from others, which can make it hard to detect. However, the following symptoms often indicate severely disordered eating:
Without proper intervention, bulimia can also lead to more serious health complications over time. These complications include intestinal and stomach damage, ulcers of the stomach and throat, damage to the oesophagus, arrhythmia, and heart failure.
The cause of bulimia is not totally clear, but doctors believe the eating disorder results from a combination of emotional, genetic, and societal factors. Additionally, certain factors can increase your risk of experiencing this condition, including a proclivity for dieting. Mental health disorders like depression and anxiety can also increase your risk.
The following treatments have proved successful for helping people with bulimia overcome the disorder:
Navigating bulimia and other eating disorders is often difficult, even after recovery. As a result, you are encouraged to seek support from friends and family, as well as join support groups with people who share in your struggle.