Closer Look: Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia Nervosa is the action of bingeing with an intent to compensate the binge eating with self-induced vomiting. This type of eating disorder can lead to a life-threatening result. People with Bulimia Nervosa typically look to be of average weight.

Developing Bulimia Nervosa starts with regularly digesting large amounts of food at once showing no signs of control over when to stop eating and regularly compensating for over eating with behaviors like making yourself vomit, taking laxatives, fasting, and/or exercising excessively. Usually, you show major concern over your weight and body shape.

Like Anorexia Bulimia and any type of eating disorder, early detection is crucial for recovery. Therefore, knowing some of the signs of someone with Bulimia Nervosa is important.

• finding evidence that large amounts of food has been consumed in a short period of time
• constantly making excuses to use the bathroom right after a meal, followed by smelling of vomit
• discovering laxatives
• unusual swelling of cheeks or jaws
• calluses on the back of hands and knuckles as a result of self-vomiting
• constant exercise no matter if injured, bad weather, busy
• living very routine in order to work in times to binge-purge 
• discoloration of teeth

Bulimia Nervosa does not just put your mental health at risk but also your physical health. The constant cycle of binge/purge can ruin your entire digestive system. Purging can also create electrolyte and chemical imbalances that can have an effect on your heart and other organs. More specifically, it can lead to irregular heart beats that can in turn cause heart failures. Purging can also cause inflammation and rupture in the esophagus and tooth decay.