What is the most significant feature of bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder. It is characterized by uncontrolled episodes of overeating (called bingeing). This is followed by purging by self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, and other methods.


What is the most significant feature of bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with bulimia may secretly binge — eating large amounts of food with a loss of control over the eating — and then purge, trying to get rid of the extra calories in an unhealthy way.

What is the most significant feature of bulimia nervosa quizlet?

preoccupation with food. The central feature of bulimia nervosa is: binge eating followed by a compensatory behavior.


What are 5 characteristics of bulimia?

DSM-5 and Bulimia Nervosa
  • Recurrent episodes of binge eating. ...
  • Ongoing compensatory behaviors in order to prevent weight gain from binges.
  • Binge eating and compensatory behaviors both occur at least once a week for at least three months.
  • Self-esteem is significantly influenced by body shape or weight.


What is the core characteristic of bulimia nervosa?

BN is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors. A binge is defined as eating a larger amount of food than typically normal in a discrete period of time, associated with a sense of loss of control over eating.


Bulimia Nervosa: Stigma, Myths and Facts



What are three physical effects of bulimia?

Frequent purging can cause dehydration. This leads to weak muscles and extreme fatigue. It can also throw your electrolytes out of balance and put strain on your heart. This can cause an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), and in some severe cases, a weakened heart muscle and heart failure.

What personality disorder is associated with bulimia?

Finally, the most common personality disorder in bulimia nervosa was borderline personality disorder, with a prevalence rate of about 28 percent.

What is the most serious consequence of bulimia?

The health consequences of bulimia are most often related to purging behaviors.
  • Dehydration.
  • Electrolyte imbalances.
  • Irregular heartbeat.
  • Heart failure.
  • Tooth decay.
  • Acid reflux.
  • Inflammation and rupture of esophagus.
  • Intestinal distress and irritation.


Which of the following is a common feature of bulimia quizlet?

Which of the following symptoms is characteristic of bulimia nervosa? Frequent episodes of extreme overeating followed by purging.

What is a characteristic of bulimia nervosa quizlet?

The person regularly engages in either self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, strict dieting or fasting, or vigorous exercise to prevent weight gain.

What is a common complication of bulimia nervosa?

Electrolyte and metabolic disturbances are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with bulimia nervosa. Hypokalemia should be managed aggressively to prevent electrocardiographic changes and arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes.


What does bulimia face look like?

“Chipmunk Cheeks”: A Common Sign of Bulimia

One of the telltale signs of bulimia is the appearance of swollen cheeks – colloquially known as “chipmunk cheeks” – on the sides of the face. Caused by the enlargement of the parotid glands (one of the salivary glands), the medical term for this phenomenon is sialadenosis.

What does bulimia do to your brain?

By studying the brain scans of women with and without bulimia, researchers have discovered that their brains react differently to food cues. They found that, in women with bulimia, there is less blood flow in a part of the brain that is linked to self-thinking.

Is bulimia related to bipolar?

Bipolar Disorder and Bulimia

As mentioned above, individuals with bipolar disorder are also more likely to experience bulimia nervosa behaviors. Purging is an impulsive behavior, therefore, those with bipolar disorder might engage in both bingeing and purging behaviors when in a manic or hypomanic state.


Does bulimia change your personality?

Bulimia nervosa is similar to anorexia nervosa in that it is also characterized by harm avoidance. Individuals with bulimia nervosa are more likely to exhibit shyness, pessimistic thinking, excessive worry and doubt and are easily fatigued.

What are 2 health consequences of bulimia?

Ulcers or pancreatitis. Acid reflux. “Bulimia teeth” (tooth decay and staining caused by frequent vomiting) Irregular digestion (IBS, diarrhea, constipation)

What organs does bulimia damage?

Bulimia can permanently damage your stomach and intestines, causing other problems like constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hormonal problems. Reproductive issues, including irregular periods, missed periods, and fertility problems are common side effects when you have bulimia.


What does bulimia do to eyes?

In rare cases, patients with bulimia might have broken blood vessels in the eye (subconjunctival hemorrhage) related to repeated episodes of forceful vomiting. When purging, there is an acute increase in pressure in the eye that can cause the blood vessels to rupture, causing the white of the eye to appear bright red.

Does bulimia cause trauma?

One study regarding the link between eating disorders and PTSD found that about one third of women with bulimia nervosa, 20% with binge eating disorder and 11.8% with other types of eating disorders also meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is bulimia jaw?

Bulimia jaw is a term for a number of symptoms that can result from the purging aspect of bulimia nervosa (BN). It can refer to swelling, intense pain, and a misalignment of the jaw, and sometimes require surgery to correct. Further Reading. Bulimia Jaw: Pain and Swelling.


Can you tell if someone has bulimia?

Unusual behavior around meals: Consistently disappearing following a meal, especially to the bathroom, can be a sign indicative of bulimia. The same can be said for finding open wrappers or stashes of food in unusual places; for instance, opened packs of candy bars underneath one's bed or in their closet.

How long does bulimia last?

Depending on several factors, it may take several months or even a few years to find recovery from bulimia. The repetitive and harmful behaviors associated with bulimia must be replaced with healthier coping mechanisms, which takes time and dedication to a new way of thinking and reacting to stressful situations.

How often do you puke with bulimia?

According to the bible of psychiatric diagnosis, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, anorexia must be accompanied by cessation of menstrual periods for at least three months in a row, and bulimia must involve vomiting or other forms of purging at least two times a week, on average.


How often is bulimia fatal?

Mortality of Eating Disorders

Another study of 246 women diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia and reported 11 (4.5%) died from their illness over time. [2] Of these women, 10 had intake diagnoses of anorexia and 1 had bulimia. This study reinforces the aforementioned one, finding anorexia more lethal than bulimia.

What triggers bulimia relapse?

What Causes a Relapse? While excessive calorie counting or body image issues can certainly trigger a relapse, eating disorders expert Lauren Muhlheim, Psy. D. says she most often sees patients relapse after a major life-changing event, such as going to college or ending a relationship.