Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food and feeling a lack of control over the eating. This binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging, fasting and excessive exercise. Bulimia is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders and shares symptoms with anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder. Because many individuals with Bulimia can maintain a normal weight, they are able to keep their condition a secret for years. If not treated, Bulimia can lead to nutritional deficiencies and even fatal complications.

Types:

There are two types of Bulimia nervosa,

• Purging bulimics self -induce vomiting to rapidly remove food from the body before it can be digested, or use laxatives, diuretics, or enemas.

• Non-purging bulimics (approximately 6%-8% of cases) exercise or fast excessively after a binge to offset the caloric intake after eating.