How is bulimia harmful

Learn about the short-term and long-term risks to understand the effects of this disorder. There are many misconceptions about bulimia, including the fact that it is simply vomiting after meals. If you or a loved one struggle with some of the symptoms described here, it may be worth speaking with a clinician and considering treatment options.

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What To Expect. Clinical Assessment. Request Health Records. Comprehensive Care Approach. Alumni Support. Family Programming. Stories of Hope. Alumni Support and Aftercare. In the News. The feelings of guilt, shame, lack of control, and distorted body image that many people with bulimia experience seem to fuel the binge-purge cycle. The burden of keeping the condition secret may also cause a person to feel additional stress and anxiety.

People with bulimia may not digest enough calories and nutrients to power their body. A lack of nutrients can cause bodily processes to slow down in an attempt to conserve energy. Forced vomiting and diarrhea can disrupt body chemistry, which can lead to the following issues:. Bulimia can also affect the pancreas. The pancreas functions as both an endocrine and exocrine gland to secrete insulin , hormones, and digestive enzymes.

Bulimia may lead to inflammation of the pancreas, which is called pancreatitis. Pancreatitis typically causes a range of signs and symptoms, including severe abdominal and back pain , nausea and vomiting, fever , and dehydration. The condition can be life-threatening and requires urgent medical care.

Over time, an electrolyte imbalance in people with bulimia and other eating disorders may increase their risk of severe cardiovascular complications. These complications can include abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure. A loss of fluids, whether it occurs due to vomiting, overexercising, or using diuretics, can cause severe dehydration. Dehydration may lead to extreme fatigue and dangerous electrolyte imbalances. If people do not replace the lost electrolytes, they may be at risk of critical health issues, including seizures.

Dehydration and poor nutrition can also affect the hair, skin, and nails. The skin may become extremely dry, while the hair can turn very frizzy or fall out. The nails may become brittle and chip easily. A lack of calories and nutrients may cause hormonal imbalances in the body, which could lead to changes in the reproductive system.

Abnormally low estrogen and progesterone levels could cause people to stop menstruating. A person with bulimia may also experience a loss of sex drive. Pregnant women who binge and purge put themselves and their babies at risk of significant complications, including:. Lower levels of reproductive hormones may also lead to bone loss or increase the risk of osteoporosis and broken bones.

The two behaviors that define bulimia are bingeing and purging. Bingeing, or binge eating, is when a person eats much more food in one sitting than their body needs, often resulting in them feeling sick. People who binge eat may feel ashamed and hide their eating habits from other people.

Their family members, close friends, and partners may not even be aware of these habits. Other signs of binge eating can include:. Many people link their binge eating habits to feelings of shame. This is because binging and purging is most often done in private.

However, family or friends may see empty food wrappers in unexpected places or vomit in the home. People with bulimia often have other mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, or substance abuse. Researchers are not sure exactly what causes bulimia and other eating disorders.

Researchers think that eating disorders might happen because of a combination of a person's biology and life events. This combination includes having specific genes, a person's biology, body image and self-esteem, social experiences, family health history, and sometimes other mental health illnesses.

Researchers are also studying unusual activity in the brain, such as changing levels of serotonin or other chemicals, to see how it may affect eating. Learn more about current research on bulimia.

Purging through vomiting or taking laxatives can prevent your body from getting the important nutrients it needs from food. Over time, bulimia can affect your body in the following ways: 5 , 7 , 8.

Long-term studies of 20 years or more show that women who had an eating disorder in the past usually reach and maintain a healthy weight after treatment. Your doctor or nurse will ask you questions about your symptoms and medical history. It may be difficult to talk to a doctor or nurse about secret eating, purging, or exercise behaviors.

But doctors and nurses want to help you get better. Being honest about your eating behaviors with a doctor or nurse is a good way to ask for help. Your doctor may do blood or urine tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Your doctor may also do other tests to see whether you have any other health problems caused by bulimia. These tests may include kidney function tests or an electrocardiogram ECG or EKG to see if or how repeated binging and purging has affected your health.

Your doctor may refer you to a team of doctors, nutritionists, and therapists who will work to help you get better. Most girls and women do get better with treatment and are able to eat and exercise in healthy ways again.

Others get well but may relapse and need treatment again. Repeated purging and binging can make your menstrual cycle irregular your period comes some months but not others or your period may stop for several months. Irregular or missing periods mean you may not ovulate , or release an egg from the ovary, every month. This can make it difficult to get pregnant. Women who have recovered from bulimia and have normal menstrual cycles have a better chance of getting pregnant and having a safe and healthy pregnancy.

If you had an eating disorder in the past, it may take you a little longer to get pregnant about six months to a year compared to women who never had an eating disorder. Some medicines used to treat bulimia can pass through breastmilk. Certain antidepressants can be used safely during breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor to find out what medicine works best for you. Learn more about medicines and breastfeeding in our Breastfeeding section.

For more information about bulimia, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:. Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Bulimia nervosa. Bulimia nervosa Bulimia nervosa , often called bulimia, is a type of eating disorder. What is bulimia? Purging may be done by: Making yourself throw up Taking laxatives.

Laxatives can include pills or liquids that speed up the movement of food through your body and lead to bowel movements. Women with bulimia usually have self-esteem that is closely linked to their body image. What is the difference between bulimia and other eating disorders? Who is at risk for bulimia?

What are the symptoms of bulimia? Over time, some symptoms of bulimia may include: 5 Swollen cheeks or jaw area Calluses or scrapes on the knuckles if using fingers to induce vomiting Teeth that look clear instead of white and are increasingly sensitive and decaying Broken blood vessels in the eyes Acid reflux, constipation, and other gastrointestinal problems Severe dehydration Girls or women with bulimia may also have behavior changes such as: Often going to the bathroom right after eating to throw up Exercising a lot, even in bad weather or when hurt or tired Acting moody or sad, hating the way she looks, or feeling hopeless Having problems expressing anger Not wanting to go out with friends or do activities she once enjoyed People with bulimia often have other mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.

What causes bulimia? How does bulimia affect a woman's health? Over time, bulimia can affect your body in the following ways: 5 , 7 , 8 Stomach damage from overeating Electrolyte imbalance having levels of sodium, potassium, or other minerals that are too high or too low, which can lead to heart attack or heart failure Ulcers and other damage to your throat from vomiting Irregular periods or not having periods, which can cause problems getting pregnant Tooth decay from vomiting Dehydration Problems having bowel movements or damage to the intestines from laxative abuse Long-term studies of 20 years or more show that women who had an eating disorder in the past usually reach and maintain a healthy weight after treatment.