Bulimia nervosa is a type of eating disorder. It is often called just bulimia. A person with bulimia eats a lot of food in a short amount of time. This is called binging. The person may fear gaining weight after a binge. Binging also can cause feelings of shame and guilt. So, the person tries to "undo" the binge by getting rid of the food. This is called purging.
often involves several components including
, dieticians and psychiatrists
Call 1-877-398-4141 any time to discuss treatment options if you or a loved one needs help with an eating disorder.
People might purge in different ways:
- making yourself throw up
- taking laxatives — pills or liquids that speed up the movement of food through your body and lead to a bowel movement
- exercising a lot
- eating very little or not at all
- taking water pills to urinate
Psychotherapist Abigail H. Natenshon, author of, When Your Child Has An Eating Disorder, A Step-by-Step Workbook For Parents And Other Caregivers, explains that it is often difficult to recognize bulimia in others: “Bulimic individuals appear to be of normal weight most often. Being a secretive disease, there is typically no way to recognize bulimia simply by observing visible behaviors. Observers need to learn to read the hidden signs of a hidden disease. Most often, bulimia is a disease that the victim covets and holds close as a result of the fear of loosening a grip on a crutch that has gotten them through life and hard times.”
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The Eating Disorder Support Groups at SupportGroups.com is for individuals, friends and families who are looking to connect during life's challenging times. Share personal experiences, evaluate information and get support during times of need, illness, treatment or recovery.
