Bulimia Nervosa

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

Below I list some of the signs and symptoms of Bulimia. You don't have to exhibit all of these behaviors to have Bulimia. Additionally, you may have experiences or behaviors that are not listed here.

• Binges on food (eating large amounts in a short time), typically in secret, often when not hungry
• Binges feel frenzied: she doesn't taste the food, and she feels unable to stop
• Feels ashamed of the binges
• Tries to compensate for the binge by purging, fasting, or overexercising
• Often has rapid weight gains and losses
• Spends significant time thinking about food and planning binges
• Eats mostly "diet" foods in public
• Becomes socially withdrawn
• Is constantly unhappy with weight
• Becomes moodier (irritable, depressed)
• Spends significant amounts of money on binge food
• Has constipation and other digestive problems
• Often has swollen glands ("chipmunk cheeks")