What is bulimia?

Also known as: bulimia nervosa, binging and purging, eating disorder

Bulimia is a type of eating disorder where children/adolescents (especially girls) will have episodes of uncontrollable overeating (binge eating).

Episodes may occur a couple of times a week, once a day, or many times a day. During the episodes large amounts of food are consumed in a short time (frequently less than 2 hours). Bouts of bulimia usually last for 3 months.

Often these episodes are followed by self-induced vomiting. Purging or using laxatives/enemas or other ways to control their weight like fasting or using medications to increase urine output.

Bulimia affects both sexes, all ages, across all socioeconomic and racial groups.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM