Understanding Bulimia Nervosa: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by binge eating followed by purging. To purge means to get rid of calories consumed by vomiting or laxative misuse, for example. Bulimia can also cause oral trauma, dental erosions, esophageal rupture, peptic ulcers, electrolyte imbalance which can lead to cardiac arrest and even death.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Bulimia

Signs & symptoms

Fear of gaining weight, concerns regarding body image, repeated episodes of eating large amount of food in a short period of time (binge eating), self-induce of vomiting, using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics, fasting, feeling loss of control during binge eating, in many cases BMI is normal.

Diagnosis

he Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes the following diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa:

Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within a two hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than what most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances.
Lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that you cannot stop eating, or control what or how much you are eating).
Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications, fasting, or excessive exercise.
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least once a week for three months.
Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Binging or purging does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa

Treatment

Psychotherapy including Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Nutrition education by a dietitian, antidepressants- Fluxetine, a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital