Bulimia nervosa

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice Tests and diagnosis

Complications Treatments and drugs Prevention Lifestyle and home remedies Coping and support

Definition

When you have bulimia nervosa, it's common to live in a world of secret shame and self-disgust. But you may feel trapped by this addiction-like relationship with food.

Bulimia is a type of eating disorder in which you're preoccupied with your weight and body shape, often judging yourself severely and harshly for perceived flaws. With bulimia, you engage in episodes of bingeing and purging, where you eat a large amount of food and then try to rid yourself of the extra calories by such unhealthy ways as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.

Bulimia is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Because it's so intimately related to self-image — and not just about food — bulimia can be difficult to overcome. But effective bulimia treatment can help you feel better about yourself, adopt healthier eating patterns and reverse serious complications.

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Symptoms