BULIMIA NERVOSA

Bulimia nervosa is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of binging and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.

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Bulimia Nervosa has three primary symptoms:

*  Regular intake of large amounts of food accompanied by a sense of loss of control over eating behavior.
*  Regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting, and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise.
*  Extreme concern with body weight and shape.

The chance for recovery increases the earlier bulimia nervosa is detected.
​Therefore, it is important to be aware of some of the warning signs of bulimia nervosa.

Warning Signs

• Evidence of binge eating, including disappearance of large amounts of food in short periods of time or finding wrappers and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
• Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting presence of wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.

• Excessive, rigid exercise regimen--

despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury, the compulsive need to “burn off” calories taken in.​

• Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from self-induced vomiting.​
• Discoloration or staining of the teeth.​

• Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.

• Continued exercise despite injury; overuse injuries.

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• Creation of lifestyle schedules or rituals to make time for binge-and-purge sessions.​​
• Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area.

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