Eating Disorders

Bulimia

People who suffer from bulimia nervosa consume large amounts of food and then use compensatory strategies. People with bulimia are preoccupied with their weight and body image and it is often associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders. People may eat a lot of food at once and then try to get rid of the food and calories by vomiting, using laxatives and diuretics, or sometimes over exercising. Some people use a combination of all these forms of purging.

Because many individuals with bulimia "binge and purge" in secret and maintain normal or above normal body weight, they can often successfully hide their problem from others for years. The frequent binging and purging may range from once or twice a week to several times a day.  Specific symptoms of bulimia are: lack of control over eating, binging, feelings of shame and guilt, compensatory behaviours to prevent gain weight, going to the bathroom during meals, body weight that goes up and down, medication abuse, refusing to eat and excessive exercise, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, abdominal pain, dehydration, damaged tooth enamel, bad breath, sore throat or mouth sore, depression.

Other eating disoders

• Anorexia
• Binge-eating
• Obesity