What do you need to know about bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa. 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.

Can a person with bulimia binge without vomiting?

Vomiting, however, is not the only method of purging. Excessive exercise, laxative use, enemas, fasting, or a combination of purging methods are common alternatives to vomiting. People who binge without purging often receive the diagnosis of binge eating disorder. What Are the Physical Dangers of Bulimia?

What does purging mean in bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Purging refers to the attempts to get rid of the food consumed. This may be done by vomiting or taking laxatives.

Are there any alternative therapies for bulimia?

Most alternative therapies for bulimia do not address the root causes of the disorder, but they can be helpful in relieving some of the physical distress resulting from it. If you want to include this type of treatment in your recovery, it is important to consult practitioners who are experienced in dealing with eating disorders.

Are there any health risks associated with bulimia?

There are many serious health risks associated with bulimia. Bingeing and purging, particularly recurrent and/or chronic episodes, have profound negative effects on the body’s systems. Specific health risks of bulimia include: Cardiac complications (irregular heartbeat and heart failure stemming from electrolyte imbalances)

How does bulimia affect the digestive system?

The recurrent binge-and-purge cycles of bulimia can affect the entire digestive system and can lead to electrolyte and chemical imbalances in the body that affect the heart and other major organ functions. The body is generally resilient at coping with the stress of eating disordered behaviors,…

Which is better fluoxetine or a placebo for bulimia nervosa?

Fluoxetine at 60 mg/d proved superior to placebo in decrea … Bulimia nervosa represents a serious public health problem in the United States. We performed an 8-week, double-blind trial comparing fluoxetine hydrochloride (60 and 20 mg/d) with placebo in 387 bulimic women treated on an outpatient basis.