What are the symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa?
Bingeing and purging
Bingeing and purging are the main symptoms and are usually done in secret.
- Bingeing means that you have repeated episodes of eating large amounts of foods and/or drinks. For example, you may eat a whole large tub of ice cream or two packets of biscuits even if you are not hungry. You feel out of control and unable to stop eating. Binge eating is often done very quickly until you feel physically uncomfortable. This happens not just on one occasion, but regularly. Eating patterns typically become chaotic.
- Purging means that you try and counteract the 'fattening' effects of the food from the bingeing. Self-induced vomiting (making yourself sick) after a bout of bingeing is the most well known, but not all people with bulimia do this. Other purging methods include taking lots of laxatives; extreme exercise; extreme dieting or even periods of complete starvation; taking diuretics (water tablets) or other medicines such as amfetamines.
The reasons why you binge eat and then purge may not be easy to explain. Part of the problem may be due to a fear of getting fat, although it is often not just as simple as that. All sorts of emotions, feelings and attitudes may contribute. The physical act of bingeing and purging may be a way of dealing with your emotions in some way.
Physical problems
These are caused by the unusual eating habits and the methods used to purge the body of food (such as vomiting or the excessive use of laxatives). Physical problems do not always develop. They are more likely if you binge and purge often. One or more of the following may develop:
- Irregular periods. Many people have irregular periods as hormone levels can be affected by poor diet. Periods may even stop all together or you may find that your periods have never started, especially if you started having eating problems when you were younger.
- Chemical imbalances in the body. These are caused by either repeated vomiting or excess use of laxatives. For example, a low potassium level which may cause tiredness, weakness, abnormal heart rhythms, kidney damage and convulsions. Low calcium levels can lead to tetany (muscle spasms).
- Bowel problems. These may occur if you take a lot of laxatives. Laxatives can damage the bowel muscle, and nerve endings. This may eventually result in permanent constipation and also sometimes abdominal pains.
- Swelling of hands, feet and face. This is usually due to fluid disturbances in the body. The saliva glands in the face can sometimes swell due to the frequent vomiting.
- Teeth problems. These can be caused by the acid from the stomach rotting away the enamel with repeated vomiting.
- Depression. It is fairly common to feel low when you have bulimia. Some people even become depressed, which can respond well to treatment. It is important to talk about any symptoms of depression you may have. Many people find they become more moody or irritable.
- Psychological problems. These are very common and include feelings of guilt and disgust after bingeing and purging. Poor self-esteem and mood swings are common.
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Where to next?
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What are the treatments for Bulimia Nervosa?
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Anorexia nervosa
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Outlook and treatment for anorexia nervosa?
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Risk of anorexia could be predicted
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Agoraphobia
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Body dysmorphic disorder
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Mental health - the facts
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Phobias
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Post-natal depression
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Self-harm: More teenagers are using it to cope
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UK women are getting more anxious
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tracey, about 1 year
i have had a problem with eating for the past 8 years i have gone from starving myself and dropping weight quickly to being the size 10 i am now but i am constantly obsessed with food and whats inside it and paraniod about being fat. other people say that i have a lovley figure and i weight 9 stone. and am 5ft 2 in i know that this is a good weight for my height but i want so much to be half a stone lighter and i cant seem to shift it i eat irregularly and take laxatives sometimes and from reading this article on bulemia i think this has helped me understand alittle better about the way i eat. i have never been to a doctor over my eating though family think i should. i eat fruit and veg an very little else. although i do binge on choclate and chicken and other stuff occasionaly am i correct in putting myself in the bulemia bracket. ? I suffer from sporadic bouts of insommnia and have gone 2+ days without sleep is this to a sign of my eating disorder.
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Jess, about 1 year
Ive never taken any laxatives or forced my self to be sick. But, Sometimes i'd eat 4 rolls for lunch and a packet of crisps, but then other days i wont eat anything. I'm really worried about putting on weight, and everyone says im really skinny and that i'm not heavy, and it makes me feel better but i still want to lose weight. I'm 13 and weigh 7 and half stone.. Could some one help me please? Thank you
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