Overview. Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is
a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder
. People with bulimia may secretly binge — eating large amounts of food with a loss of control over the eating — and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way.
What are 3 warning signs of bulimia?
- Episodes of binge eating.
- Self-induced vomiting.
- Smelling like vomit.
- Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
- Complaining about body image.
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
What is classified as bulimia?
Bulimia nervosa is
an eating disorder
, commonly referred to simply as bulimia. It’s a serious condition that can be life-threatening. It’s generally characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Purging can occur through forced vomiting, excessive exercise, or by taking laxatives or diuretics.
Do bulimics lose weight?
People with bulimia
can have normal body weights
.
Not everyone with bulimia is ultra-thin. Anorexia causes a large calorie deficit, leading to extreme weight loss. People with bulimia can experience episodes of anorexia, but they still tend to consume more calories overall through bingeing and purging.
Does bulimia change your face?
Face swelling
is one of the Bulimia effects sufferers find most distressing: sometimes described as ‘Bulimia face,’ the swelling can make people feel their face ‘looks fat’. What is taking place is the body’s reaction to self-induced vomiting and the dehydration it causes.
What age does bulimia usually start?
On average, women develop bulimia at
18 or 19
. Teen girls between 15 and 19 and young women in their early 20s are most at risk. But eating disorders are happening more often in older women.
Can your dentist tell if you are bulimic?
Erosion can drastically change the color, size and shape of your teeth.
Excessive tooth erosion
is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. Frequent vomiting can lead to sensitive teeth, dry mouth and red, cracked lips. All signs that your dentist is trained to recognize as side effects of bulimia.
How can I tell if someone has bulimia?
- Constant weight gain or loss.
- Stomach pain not related to illness.
- Dizziness.
- Fainting.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Brittle hair and nails.
- Discolored teeth.
- Irregular menstrual periods.
Do bulimics poop?
Eating too few calories can also lead to constipation. People with constipation
experience fewer bowel movements than other people
. They may also have harder stools that can be difficult or painful to expel. When a person undereats, their body has less food to convert into stools, which can cause constipation.
How can I drop 20 pounds fast?
- Count Calories. …
- Drink More Water. …
- Increase Your Protein Intake. …
- Cut Your Carb Consumption. …
- Start Lifting Weights. …
- Eat More Fiber. …
- Set a Sleep Schedule. …
- Stay Accountable.
How long can you survive with bulimia?
Roughly 50% of women will recover from bulimia within ten years of their diagnosis
, but an estimated 30% of these women will experience a relapse of the disorder. These behaviors can wreak havoc on the body both in the short-term and the long-term.
How can you tell if someone is purging?
- recurring episodes of purging behaviors to lose weight, including: self-induced vomiting. laxative or diuretic misuse. …
- significant emotional distress or disruption to social, work, or personal life.
- fear of gaining weight or obsession with losing weight.
- self-esteem issues heavily influenced by body shape or weight.
Is Bulimia an addiction?
In fact, Bulimia Nervosa is
commonly co-occurring with drug addictions
. Many research studies have demonstrated the overlapping behaviors of eating disorders and substance abuse and the similar addictive personality that is often observed in individuals who suffer with both addictions and bulimia.
What are two long term effects of bulimia?
- Sever dehydration.
- Tooth decay & cavities.
- Irregular periods.
- Constipation.
- Boating.
- Acid reflux.
- Stomach ulcers.
- Kidney issues.
Who does bulimia affect most?
Bulimia most often affects
females
and starts during the teenage years. But, it can also affect males. People with bulimia are more likely to come from families with a history of eating disorders, physical illness, and other mental health problems.
What it feels like to be bulimic?
The person with bulimia doesn’t feel sick,
she feels desperate, driven
. Bingeing and purging temporarily removes stress, like a drug. All focus is on the cycle, from trying to avoid a binge, giving in to the urge, planning, and execution.
