Clinical forms of eating disorder:

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa is characterized by cycles of bingeing and purging. As with anorexia, this behaviour is driven by a desire to regulate feelings, and with worries about body weight and shape.

The cycle begins with the person rapidly eating large amounts of food in a single sitting. The eating feels automatic and helpless. This may, initially, numb uncomfortable feelings, like anger or sadness. But it also creates physical discomfort and anxiety about weight gain. As a consequence, the person tries to rid the body of the food that was consumed. This is attempted by vomiting, using laxatives, enemas or diuretics, by exercising excessively, by skipping meals or by dieting.

These purging behaviours don't achieve the desired goals - to feel more physically comfortable and not gain weight. Instead, they are very harmful to health.

Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging. Feeling out of control while eating. Vomiting, using laxatives, diet pills or diuretics, exercising excessively, and skipping meals to rid the body of food. Frequent dieting. Using body weight and shape as the main measure of one's self-worth.

People with bulimia may well have a weight that is regarded as "normal".

For more information, go to www.nedic.ca

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