Bulimia Nervosa
In bulimia nervosa, the individual binge eats, feels out of control while eating, and then vomits, misuses laxatives, exercises, or fasts to get rid of the calories. An episode of binge eating is characterized by eating more food than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances and having a 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). The bulimic then engages in inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
Warning signs of bulimia include: excessive preoccupation with weight and/or body image; rigid dieting followed by binge eating; preoccupation with food/planning binges; hiding/stealing food; frequent over-eating especially when stressed; rapid, “zoned out” eating with feelings of being out of control; disappearing after eating to purge; the use of laxatives, vomiting or overexercise to control weight; feeling guilt or shame about eating behaviors; significant mood swings, including relatively long periods of depression.
Other symptoms include: dry hair or hair breakage and/or thinning, brittle nails, warm and clammy skin, erosion of tooth enamel or bleeding/receding gums, change in bite and lower jaw alignment, fatigue/cold sweats/lightheadedness due to rapid change in blood sugar levels, swelling of glands in throat, face and neck, irregular menstrual cycles, and heart palpitations.
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