Bulimia Nervosa

"Bulimia nervosa, or bulimia, is a type of eating disorder. Someone with bulimia eats a lot of food in a short amount of time, or binges, and then tries to get rid of the calories by purging. Purging might be done by making oneself throw up or taking laxatives, which increase how fast food moves through the body and leads to a bowel movement. A person with bulimia may also try to prevent weight gain by exercising a lot, restricting eating or not eating at all, or taking diuretics, which are pills that make a person urinate. Bulimia is more than just a problem with food. It can be a way of using food to feel in control of overwhelming feelings. Purging and other behaviors to prevent weight gain may help people with bulimia feel more in control of their lives and ease stress and anxiety. Unlike anorexia, when people are severely underweight, people with bulimia may be underweight, overweight, or have a normal weight, making it harder to know if someone has the disease. Signs may include thinking about food a lot; bingeing, normally in secret; throwing up after bingeing; using laxatives, diet pills, or diuretics to control weight; being depressed; being unhappy or thinking a lot about body shape and weight; eating large amounts of food quickly; going to the bathroom frequently after eating; exercising a lot even during bad weather, fatigue, illness, or injury; unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area; cuts and calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from making oneself throw up; white tooth enamel that wears away and makes teeth look clear; withdrawing from friends or activities; and having rules about food, such as identifying good foods and bad foods."