What are the risks of being bulimic? Will it hurt you if you don't do it often, you just do it after a binge?
101166
The problem is that you will become obsessed and not eat properly. People have been known to binge and purge several times a day. Bulimia is a serious disease with an estimated mortality rate of 10% according to the Eating Disorders Association of the UK. Other health problems associated with the disorder include:\n\n* Electrolyte imbalance, heart arrhythmia, heart failure \n* Teeth erosion and cavities \n* Sialadenosis (salivary gland swelling) \n* Potential for gastric rupture during periods of bingeing \n* Acid Reflux \n*Irritation, inflammation, and possible rupture of the esophagus \n*Laxative dependence \n*Peptic ulcers and pancreatitis \n*Emetic toxicity due to ipecac abuse \n*Potentially death \n\nIf you think you have it, seek help.
911854
Don't eat things that you will regret and eat them in moderation. Sounds like you've got an ED. If you want help there are plenty of recovery websites and you can always talk to your doc. If you don't want help, just remember eating disorders can kill you. Would you die to be skinny?
350195
Its a condition called Bulimia, people usually do it to lose weight, it has very harful long term effects. Find out more on -\nhttp://www.medicinenet.com/bulimia/article.htm\nhttp://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic810.htm
991690
Ummm... I got stressed out and lost 26 pounds in to weeks because all I could eat was crackers. Like, maybe ten a day, and I had to MAKE myself eat them.\n\nI've been told that what happens is you trick your body into thinking you're starving to DEATH and it starts sucking up and holding on to every calorie you consume, which is why people who go on crash diets gain their weight back so quickly when they start eating again... \n\nFor the record, I'm eating normally now and I haven't gained back a single pound.
803608
Your eating disorders always come back to feeling a lack of control in your life......People have eating disorders mainly because they feel their world is out of control....So they maintain some control by not eating, sounds paradoxical, I know, but that is how it works.....I hope you seek some counseling to get to the root of your problems...Best of luck...
892673
Bulimia the though makes me sick
1127807
What you need to do is portion out your food throughout the day. You should eat a lot of little, healthy meals. This will help you feel full and stay full, plus if you eat the correct items, you won't feel the need to binge afterwards. :)
1166760
YES!!\nDiagnostic Criteria\nRecurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following: \neating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances \na sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating) \nRecurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise. \nThe binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months. \nSelf-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. \nThe disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa. \nSpecify type:\nPurging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas \nNonpurging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas \n \n\n--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\n\nDifferential Diagnosis\nAnorexia Nervosa; Binge-Eating/Purging Type; Kleine-Levin syndrome; Major Depressive Disorder, With Atypical Features; Borderline Personality Disorder.
511455
Bulimia nervosa, more commonly known as bulimia, is an eating disorder. It is a psychological condition in which the subject engages in recurrent binge eating followed by intentionally doing one or more of the following in order to compensate for the intake of the food and prevent weight gain:\n\nvomiting \ninappropriate use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics or other medication \nexcessive exercising \nfasting \nContents [hide]\n1 DSM-IV criteria \n2 History of Bulimia Nervosa \n3 Causes \n4 Genetic Factors \n5 Environmental Factors \n6 Patterns of bulimic cycles \n7 Subtypes of Bulimia \n8 Consequences of bulimia nervosa \n9 How to Diagnose Bulimia Nervosa \n10 Related Psychological Disorders \n11 Differences Between Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa \n12 Treatment of Bulimia Nervosa \n13 Mortality risk \n14 At-risk groups \n15 Prevention \n16 See also \n17 External links \n \n\n\n[edit]\nDSM-IV criteria\nThe following six criteria should be met for a patient to be diagnosed with bulimia: [1] [2]\n\nThe patient feels incapable of controlling the urge to binge, even during the binge itself, and consumes a larger amount of food than a person would normally consume at one sitting. \nThe patient purges him or herself of the recent intake, resorting to vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, exercising, etc. \nThe patient engages in such behavior at least twice per week for three months. \nThe patient is focused upon body image and the desperate desire to appear thin. \nThe patient does not meet the diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. (Some anorectics may demonstrate bulimic behaviours in their illness: binge-eating and purging themselves of food on a regular or infrequent basis at certain times during the course of their disease. Alternatively, some individuals might switch from having anorexia to having bulimia. The mortality rate for anorectics who practice bulimic behaviors is twice that of anorectics who do not. [3]) \nThe patient is of normal weight or overweight. \nPlease note that, in general, diagnostic criteria are considered a guide. A legitimate clinical diagnosis can often be made when not all, but most, of the criteria are met.\n\n[edit]\nHistory of Bulimia Nervosa\nBulima nervoasa was first described by Professor Gerald Russell in 1979 whilst he worked at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Bulimia nervosa has been recognized as an autonomous eating disorder by the American Psychiatric Association since 1980 [4]. The word “bulimia” is Latin, getting its roots from the Greek word “boulimia” which directly translates to mean “extreme hunger” [5].\n\n[edit]\nCauses\nBulimia is often less about food, and more to do with deep psychological issues and profound feelings of lack of control. Binge/purge episodes can be severe, sometimes involving rapid and out of control feeding that can stop when the sufferers "are interrupted by another person . . . or [when] their stomach hurts from over-extension . . . This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in serious cases, several times a day."[6] Sufferers can often "use the destructive eating pattern to gain control over their lives".[7]\n\n[edit]\nGenetic Factors\nResearch done in 2003, shows a link to the development of bulimia nervosa with an area on the 10p chromosome. This evidence further supports the belief that the susceptibility of developing an eating disorder (specifically bulimia) is strongly linked to ones genetic components [8]. Familial links include a history of obesity, substance abuse, and depressive disorder. Twin studies also strongly support this genetic factor. While both genetics and unique environments contributed to the development of the disorder, twin studies indicate a slightly stronger effect from the genetic predisposition than from environmental circumstances. Significant rates of sexual assault and violence also indicate a possible correlation between victimization and the development of bulimia. Chemically, low
778462
After finding out about my relationship with food, I lost 112 pounds.  It took me 1.5 years but well worth it.  This was a very difficult task as I began to learn that I was eating to comfort myself during situations.  And having to take away my food that I felt helped me so much during difficult time was crippling.  Finding substitutes to fill in and being more open with my friends was another step as well as accepting that my food addiction/emotional eater was no different from someone with drug, drinking or smoking addiction.  \n\nPlease keep in mind the following:\n\nDiets can work but because we know so little about ourselves and our relationship with food, it makes it difficult to win the battle. A lot of us have problems with dieting because we have a problem called "emotional eating" we eat to comfort ourselves during difficult, stressful, sad, etc times in our lives.\n\nYou may experience all those emotions during dieting as we continuously get on the scale hoping to see a big difference in numbers after dieting only for a day or two. Also what is stressful when dieting is that we try to lose a large number of weight in such a short period of time which in most cases is unreasonable. \n\nThis all brings about stress, discomfort and sadness. When we feel this way, we turn to our best friend for help and support which for many of us is food. The diet is now broken and we feel that we can't stick to diets. We then try fad diet after fad diet hoping to lose the original 20 pounds and now we may have as much as 30 pounds to lose because we continue to put on weight as we continue to break these fad diets by binging for starting our next diet. \n\nPlease learn about your relationship with food before your next diet so that you may achieve your goals. To help a little, keep in mind the following:\n\nYou already know how to lose weight. You know that if you eat less and exercise more eventually you’ll see the pounds come off. What’s getting in your way? Why do you usually regain the weight you lost? The answer to all these questions is the same “Emotional Eating.” Simply defined, emotional eating means you eat to satisfy emotional hunger; it means you use food for comfort or as a way to cope with life; and it means you eat for reasons other than what your body needs. Whenever you reach for a boredom-breaking snack despite your commitment, or whenever you eat to quell anxiety, that’s emotional eating. Whenever you binge after a fight, or double up on portions because your day turned sour, that’s emotional eating. Whenever you feel that sharp craving for your favorite food, that’s emotional eating. When we eat during these times while on a diet, we believe the diet doesn’t work or that we lack self control and then look for the quickest way to lose weight (fasting/diet pills, ect) after eating all we can since we already\n   messed the diet day up. remember that emotional eating plays a big part in why we don’t continue dieting and why we regain lost weight and why we binge today and start a new diet tomorrow. Best of Luck.
111918
No.  Bulimics don't lose weight because they aren't actually starving themselves.  They binge and purge.  When they binge they are actually absorbing a lot of nutrients and calories which helps them to sustain their weight.  When they purge it just keeps them from absorbing the remainder.  Anorexics are so thin because they deprive themselves completely.  Bulimics actually can take in thousands of calories on a binge.  A lot of which are absorbed before they actually purge.
1037687
Tough questions.  Every human does it a little bit... otherwise there wouldn't be "comfort food" cookbooks and there wouldn't be any market for ice cream or chocolate.\n\nBut if you do it excessively, i.e, binging, bulimia, or some similar behavior that constitutes an eating disorder, it is a serious health problem that requires medical supervision, therapy and group support to recover from.  Your question indicates that you have already recognized that it is an emotional problem.  Take the next step... get yourself some emotional care.  Ask your family doctor to help you find a reputable therapist who specializes in eating disorders, and/or find a chapter of Overeaters Anonymous near you.   \n\nGood luck... you are a worthwhile person who totally deserves to take good care of yourself.
1071538
That's not a nice thing you did to your body, dude. But now it's done, and there's nothing that can reverse it.\n\nDO: Do lots of training...do some wights, jog, take a swim, do a sauna, play some ball game. Like that, your body will feel the need for sugar, salts and other minerals. And they'll be readily available from last night's binge.\n\nDON'T: Don't starve to make up. It doesn't work that way.  You already gave your body a shock with the binge...don't give it another shock by shutting up the door to your stomach.
323986
Dear, I've been bulimic, and believe me, you don't want to go there.  What a horrible nightmare it is!!!  It's not just about the few minutes it takes to vomit after you eat or taking mega-doses of laxatives -- it takes over your entire life!  You don't think it will, but it will.  I thought the same thing at first.  I needed to lose weight and I LOVE food, so dieting was really hard.  I figured that the bulimic behaviors would make losing weight easy and I'd be happy.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  There's absolutely NO happiness once you start down that road -- no matter how much weight you lose.  After a while, your intestines lose their ability to work on their own so you then NEED to forcefully purge, not just for weight loss purposes but to rid your body of the food that it's no longer able to digest.  It then becomes really uncomfortable (painful, actually) to keep food in your system and before you know it, you can't go out with friends or take part in any activities because just in case there's not a bathroom close by, you'll be really suffering.  That's what I mean when I say it takes over your entire life (every minute of every day has to be planned around the disease).  That's not to mention the fact that the acids from vomit will eat up your esophagus so that it eventually becomes really hard to eat.  And those same acids will disintegrate your tooth enamel.  Even one more thing to mention -- when you don't allow your body to get the nutrition it needs, all of your organs are affected.  You could even have heart failure (I know a girl who died from this).  When I started down that road, I had planned to do it only until I got to my goal weight -- but by the time I reached the goal, the disease had me in its grips and wouldn't let go.  When I think about how much harm I did to myself and how much money that habit cost me (doctor bills, dental bills and psychologist bills), it makes me sick.  PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't do it!  It took me 10 years to stop the bulimic behaviors, but I'm still suffering some of the health effects long afterwards.  I can tell you now that I would much rather be overweight and sane than be bulimic.  I hope that I've given you some things to think about.
1025981
once a day is sufficient. use time wisely and you dont have to kill yourself. Consistency is the most important thing dont burn yourself out. Work hard but make it enjoyable. having a partner is good also. You will see great results in months trust me. Eat right but cheat a little from time to time. You dont want to go on a binge later.
790668
hmmmmm...... everything. From the binging and purging, you can ruin your esophogus and throat in general (from all the acid you are throwing up). You can get Acid Refulx Disease or GERD from this as well. You can get stomach ulcers. Bullimia usually leads to anorexia, and you hair on your head falls out, but you get really furry on the rest of your body because your body cannot regulate its own temperature. From lack of eating, you are going to have tons less energy, so you are going to feel tired a lot more. When you are tired and are working out for hours a day, you are going to faint a lot. The lack of energy in your body is going to lead to less brain waves you produce, which can make it harder for you to think or concentrate. When you don't have any food in your system, or if you don't drink anything (including water or juice), your body is going to develop a vitamin dificiency, which could lead to digestive problems, liver failure, kidney failure, amonst other things. There are a lot of things that can go wrong with bullimia. It is a disease after all.\n\nHope this adds some insight and helps!
837122
I became bulimic. I was tired of being fat, but could not give up food. I became obsessed! Figuring out what foods tasted ok the second time around, when I could vomit, eating in front of people, and convincing myself mentally that certain foods were just not ok. I suppose anorexia is similar. But giving up food? I think they are both a form of mental illness, just manifested differently.\nhttp://www.wikihow.com/Discussion:Deal-if-you-Want-to-Become-Anorexic/Archive\nTypically patients pick up destructive behaviors just by watching others or gossiping, she says. They may learn ways to burn calories by exercising on the sly, for example--performing sit-ups late at night, pacing or even furtively flexing muscles while sitting.\nhttp://www.apa.org/monitor/mar02/partners.html\nI suppose one key factor (of the *many*) was the film "The Best Little Girl in the World" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082062/\nIt was supposed to curb the desire to become anorexic, but I wanted so much to be like her!