Bulimia nervosa is a common form of eating disorder that is characterized by periods of binge-eating, or excessive eating, followed by stages of purging. People who struggle with bulimia often have an obsessive fear of gaining weight, but that doesn't mean that everyone who has this condition will necessarily be underweight. Some people who struggle from bulimia are obese or overweight. They might try to use their purging behaviors to help them manage their weight or stop additional weight gain. However, whatever the background, it's important to note that bulimia is a serious mental problem that will often require intensive treatment. Here, we're going to cover everything you need to know about severe bulimia.

Typical Behavior of People with Bulimia:

A person who has bulimia generally eats more than 2,000 calories in a single sitting, before inducing vomiting. However, it's worth noting that vomiting isn't the only way that these people purge their bodies of the food that they eat. Excessive laxative use, exercising, use of enemas, fasting, combinations of these, and other methods are common alternatives to induced vomiting.

If you suspect that someone you care for has bulimia, it's worth noting that there are a range of telltale signs to look out for. For instance, you might notice a preoccupation with weight, which might include the constant fear of gaining weight. If your loved one is constantly talking about appearance, then he or she may have an eating disorder.

When discovering everything you need to know about severe bulimia, it's worth noting that people with this condition often hide the evidence of their binging and purging behaviors. If you recognize many food waste wrappers you might be seeing the evidence of a binge. People who have bulimia who frequently induce vomiting might have cuts on their hands and fingers because of scraping against their teeth.

What Are the Dangers of Bulimia?

When looking at everything you need to know about severe bulimia, it's worth understanding the physical dangers associated with bulimia. For instance, frequent cycles of binging and then purging generally put serious stress on the body. According to experts, your heart simply isn't built to withstand constant laxative use or frequent vomiting, and this level of stress can cause arrhythmia, as well as heart attacks, heart palpitations, and more. Repeated vomiting will also erode the enamel on teeth, which might lead to yellow teeth, sensitivity in the mouth, and rapid decay of the teeth.

Another issue to note is that rapid binging can stretch the stomach and change the amount of food that you can eat. Sometimes, binging might get so excessive that it rips the stomach lining and causes acid to spill throughout the body, leading to fatal results. You may also experience chronic stomach problems as part of your problems with bulimia. For instance, inflammation of the esophagus is common for these people, and chronic gastric reflux may also be a serious problem.

It's worth noting that chronic health problems don't just disappear when you overcome bulimia. For instance, you might continue to suffer from these issues years after your last cycle of purging and binging.