Bulimia Nervosa

There's no way to tell by looks alone whether a person is bulimic. Bulimia nervosa, also known as binge-purge disorder, is, like its related eating disorder anorexia, marked by severely restrictive eating, but the extreme dieting is punctuated by bouts of out-of-control binge-eating. Most often, they are followed by purging, or self-induced vomiting, less often by the use of laxatives or diuretics or other compensatory behavior such as fasting or overexercising. The disorder typically begins during adolescence, and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy is the treatment of choice.



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Eating Disorders Blogs

  • Emily Troscianko

    A Hunger Artist

    Winning the battle against anorexia.
  • Marcia Herrin, Ed.D., M.P.H., R.D.

    Eating Disorders News

    Information on eating disorders and how to cope with them.
  • Sumati Gupta, Ph.D.

    Emotional Eating

    Overcoming bulimia, binge eating, and body blues
  • Maria Baratta, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

    Skinny Revisited

    Using the language of anorexia to heal
  • Judy Scheel, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

    When Food Is Family

    Key ingredients in the eating disorder mix
  • Sheila Himmel

    You Must Be Hungry

    A food critic grapples with her daughter's eating disorders.
  • Your Write to Health

    Writing and journaling techniques that encourage self-discovery, self-acceptance, and improved self-confidence.