What is Bulimia Nervosa?

kunst024
Apr 15, 2019
2 min read

National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Definition: Bulimia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting designed to undo or compensate for the effects of binge eating.

Basic Diagnosis Criteria:

~ Repeated Binge Eating Episodes

- Binge Eating is usually characterized as eating food portions definitively larger than the societal norm within a certain period of time and feeling a lack of control over eating during these periods

~ Repeated Inappropriate Behavior Meant Exclusively to Prevent Weight Gain

- Compensatory behaviors include excessive laxative use, self-induced vomiting, misuse of diuretics or weight loss medications, fasting, over-exercising, etc.

~ Binge Eating and Behaviors Occur at Least Once Per Week for Three Months

~ Self-Confidence and Value is Directly Impacted by Body Weight or Shape

** These Episodes Do Not Coincide with Episodes of Anorexia Nervosa**

Bulimia Nervosa's Lasting Effects

Cardiovascular:

Due to low caloric intake, the body begins to break down muscle. This effect does not discriminate against the heart, and can cause blood pressure and pulse to decline from the decrease in available blood cells and nutrients. Low blood pressure and pulse can lead to heart failure and death.

Purging also depletes the body's electrolytes--important chemicals that regulate heartbeat and assist in muscle contraction. Unbalanced levels of electrolytes can cause irregular heatbeats, heart failure, and death.

Gastrointestinal:

Patterns of binge eating and purging can cause the stomach to rupture, releasing toxins into the body. The acid from repeated vomiting may also burn a hole in the esophagus over time and induces swelling in the salivary glands.

Bulimia often leads to a type of slowed digestion called gastroparesis, where victims experience stomach bloating, bacterial infections, vomiting, blood sugar irregularities, and blocked intestines. Severe constipation often accompanies this because nutrient stores for digestion and waste disposal are severely depleted.

Neurological:

The brain uses 20% of the body's calories, so starvation or erratic eating behaviors forces the brain to trigger obsessive thoughts regarding food, making it extremely difficult to focus.

Inadequate fat intake can damage the myelin in the brain, the coating that allows for electrical signals to efficiently travel to different parts of the body. This inhabits itself as numbness or tingling in the limbs. Fainting, dizziness, seizures, and muscle cramps may also occur due to electrolyte depletion.