Bulimia nervosa facts for kids
Bulimia nervosa (often just called bulimia) is a type of eating disorder. It's a serious condition where a person eats a very large amount of food quickly, then tries to get rid of it. They might do this by making themselves vomit, using laxatives, or exercising a lot. People with bulimia often feel like they are fat and have a strong desire to be skinny.
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Signs of Bulimia
People with bulimia often eat large amounts of food, which is called "binging." After binging, they usually try to get rid of the food, which is called "purging." This might happen at least once a week or even more often.
People with bulimia often worry a lot about their body shape and weight. They usually want to be thin. Sometimes, people with bulimia might also have anorexia nervosa. But often, people with bulimia are at a normal weight or even overweight. This can make it hard to tell if someone has it just by looking at them. They might also have calluses or bruises on their fingers from making themselves vomit.
How Bulimia Affects Your Body
Bulimia nervosa can cause many health problems because of the frequent purging. Vomit contains strong acid. If someone vomits often, this acid can hurt their mouth, throat (food pipe), and teeth.
People with bulimia can also lose important nutrients and water from their body, leading to dehydration. Glands in the throat and face might swell up and become painful. The immune system can become weaker, and there's a risk of muscle or heart problems. Sometimes, the acid from vomit can even get into the lungs, damaging the small air tubes and making it hard to breathe.
Who Gets Bulimia?
Most people who have bulimia are between the ages of 10 and 25. It is more common in girls and women than in boys and men. People who have gone through difficult experiences in the past are more likely to develop bulimia. Also, people who have obsessive compulsive disorder or who are perfectionists might be more likely to have bulimia.
Related Pages
Images for kids
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How bulimia affects the body
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The erosion on the lower teeth was caused by bulimia. For comparison, the upper teeth were restored with porcelain veneers.
See also
In Spanish: Bulimia para niños
