| Bulimia is an eating disorder. People with | | | | Some people binge once a day; others may |
| bulimia usually have a normal weight, but | | | | binge several times a day. After eating, a |
| perceive themselves to be fat. Or they may | | | | person with bulimia will often go to the |
| feel intense guilt or self-disgust when they | | | | bathroom for several minutes to vomit up the |
| eat. These feelings are so strong that people | | | | food. He or she might abuse laxatives or |
| with bulimia throw up much of the food they | | | | diuretics, or exercise constantly. A person |
| eat. Though men and women both can develop | | | | with bulimia is overly concerned about weight |
| bulimia, 90 percent of people with bulimia | | | | and appearance.Constant vomiting burns the |
| are women. For most, bulimia begins in the | | | | esophagus, mouth, and teeth with stomach |
| teens, a few years after puberty begins. Many | | | | acid. Many people with bulimia have symptoms |
| people with bulimia are perfectionists or | | | | like gum infections, heartburn, or swollen |
| overachievers.Bulimia is identified by two | | | | salivary glands from the stomach acid. Their |
| characteristic behaviors: bingeing and | | | | teeth lose some of their enamel or get |
| purging. In a binge, a person eats more than | | | | cavities. People with bulimia may also be |
| 1,000 calories, which is close to half the | | | | constipated.Bingeing and purging is not |
| number of calories a typical person needs in | | | | healthy, and, as a result, many people with |
| a day. But to a person with bulimia, a binge | | | | bulimia are malnourished. They may be |
| may be eating a piece of cake. People with | | | | dehydrated and have low electrolytes. Many |
| bulimia often binge on comfort foods like | | | | people with bulimia have dry skin and brittle |
| potato chips, cake, or cookies. But after | | | | nails. Most seriously, when blood potassium |
| eating the food, the person is filled with | | | | levels drop severely, can prove fatal. |
| guilt and shame. The person with bulimia then | | | | |
| purges him or herself by inducing vomiting, | | | | Bulimia may also be tied to self-esteem |
| excessively exercising, or by using | | | | problems, stress, or depression. Bulimia is |
| laxatives.A person in a binge-and-purge cycle | | | | completely treatable, but requires |
| will eat lots of food at one time. A binge | | | | professional help and support to break the |
| may be secret or planned. It could begin | | | | bingeing-and-purging cycles. |
| suddenly, cascading just from a bite of food. | | | | |