Bulimia Nervosa



Bulimia nervosa is a severe psychological and eating disorder characterised by the ingestion of an enormous amount of food in a single session, followed by attempts to manually purge the food in order to maintain a perceived ideal weight and figure. Bulimia nervosa is the most common form of eating disorder in the UK, comprising 40% of the total.

Overview of bulimia nervosa

Poor body image caused by the failure to achieve the idealised Western standard of beauty and peer pressure has triggered many psychological disorders among populace. Many have attempted to attain this unreasonable standard using extreme approaches which are placing their long-term health at great risks. One of the most dangerous approaches is by forced-purging the food they have eaten. This disorder is called bulimia nervosa.

Those suffering from the disorder do not use dieting, exercise or healthy eating to maintain their weight or body shape. Instead, they eat more than usual, and during or after the meal, they manually use their fingers to force themselves to vomit out all the food they have eaten. Theoretically, this method allows them to satisfy their cravings without worry about putting on weight.

The systemic effects of bulimia nervosa on the body. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Effects of bulimia nervosa

People who are suffering from bulimia nervosa are effectively running on fumes. Their body receive just a fraction of the daily recommended dose of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. The digital manipulation of their throat to prompt vomiting is also dangerous. Some of the most common effects of bulimia nervosa include:

  • Sore or injured throat
  • Acid reflux or heartburn
  • Gastrointestinal ulcers
  • Tooth decay
  • Dehydration
  • Weakened bones and damaged muscles and organs due to malnutrition
  • Cardiac issues
  • Infertility