

You may be at a normal weight or even a bit overweight. If you have bulimia, you're probably preoccupied with your weight and body shape, and may judge yourself severely and harshly for your self-perceived flaws. Because of guilt, shame and an intense fear of weight gain from overeating, you may force vomiting or you may exercise too much or use other methods, such as laxatives, to get rid of the calories. Many people with bulimia also restrict their eating during the day, which often leads to more binge eating and purging.ĭuring these episodes, you typically eat a large amount of food in a short time, and then try to rid yourself of the extra calories in an unhealthy way. When you have bulimia, you have episodes of bingeing and purging that involve feeling a lack of control over your eating. Bulimia nervosaīulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa - commonly called bulimia - is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. Efforts to reduce your weight, even when underweight, can cause severe health problems, sometimes to the point of deadly self-starvation. When you have anorexia, you excessively limit calories or use other methods to lose weight, such as excessive exercise, using laxatives or diet aids, or vomiting after eating. People with anorexia use extreme efforts to control their weight and shape, which often significantly interferes with their health and life activities.

Anorexia nervosaĪnorexia (an-o-REK-see-uh) nervosa - often simply called anorexia - is a potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight or shape. Other eating disorders include rumination disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder are the most common eating disorders. Symptoms vary, depending on the type of eating disorder.
