Bulimia Nervosa Explained: Symptoms, Physical Effects & Treatment

The physical and long term effects Bulimia Nervosa has on the body.

As all eating disorders are, Bulimia Nervosa is a seriously harmful illness that keeps those who suffer from it in a perpetual state of anxiety, fear, tension, and upset. If left untreated, Bulimia can cause long term physical effects, some of them life threatening, leaving the individual with physical wounds as well as emotional ones.

All eating disorders are detrimental to one’s body, mind, and soul. What is encouraging, however, is that with a willingness to be vulnerable and an ability to practice resilience, recovery is entirely possible. Eating disorders are treatable, and a brighter, happier, freer future is waiting for whoever wants it to be theirs.

What Is Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by a recurring and incessant binge-purge cycle. A binge is considered an episode of overeating, consuming a large amount of food in an inappropriately small window of time. What makes a binge different from simply overeating is the intense feeling of being out of control around food, as if it’s impossible to stop and the urge to consume is too strong.

After the binge has subsided, the individual then engages in purging behaviour, most commonly self-induced vomiting or the use of laxatives, diuretics, and over exercising to compensate for the binge. It’s common that once the purging has also subsided, the individual heavily restricts their food intake as an extended compensatory activity. The restriction, however, inevitably leads to another binge, and the cycle continues.

What Are the Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia symptoms show up physically, emotionally, and behaviourally, and they don’t always look the same from person to person. Common signs of Bulimia include the binge-purge cycle described above, along with the physical, immediate, and emotional signs covered in the sections below. Because Bulimia can be hidden fairly easily, these signs are often the clearest indication that something more serious is going on.

What Are the Physical Effects of Bulimia Nervosa?

There are various physical effects of Bulimia Nervosa that can develop into complications requiring critical medical intervention, separate from treating the eating disorder itself. Subjecting the body to a constant state of upheaval, overconsumption followed by extreme purging, doesn’t allow the body to rest in the state of homeostasis it needs. The long term effects of Bulimia on the body include, but aren’t limited to:

Tooth decay and tooth enamel wearing
Throat swelling
Facial swelling
Cardiovascular irregularities
Russell’s sign
Digestive problems, constipation, diarrhea
Dehydration
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies
Thinning hair
Irregular sleep
Irritated esophagus, with possible abrasions or rupture in the most serious cases

What Is Russell’s Sign?

Russell’s sign refers to calloused, bruised, or lacerated skin on the back of an individual’s hand, caused by repeated self-induced vomiting. It’s one of the most recognizable physical signs of Bulimia and often shows up as small cuts or bruising, particularly across the knuckles.

What Are the Immediate Physical Signs of Bulimia Nervosa?

Purging, in particular vomiting, can be incredibly jarring on the body, and it’s sometimes fairly apparent if someone has been throwing up. Along with the physical effects above, the most immediate signs of Bulimia Nervosa are Russell’s sign, a swollen face, a sore throat, dehydration, and tooth decay.

What Are the Treatment Options for Bulimia Nervosa?

Bulimia treatment options are plentiful and can be adjusted to suit the unique needs of the individual. Therapy is a critical and necessary step toward recovery from an eating disorder. Eating disorders, after all, are mental illnesses that impact the entire body, so it’s essential to start at the root and work through what has been quietly feeding the Bulimia.

What Does Bulimia Recovery Look Like?

Bulimia recovery isn’t a straight line, and it looks different for everyone. For some, it means breaking the binge-purge cycle and rebuilding trust with food. For others, it’s learning to manage the underlying anxiety, shame, or need for control that fuels the cycle in the first place. Consistent support from a treatment team who understands Bulimia specifically makes a meaningful difference in how sustainable that recovery is.

Related Article: Purging Disorder Vs Bulimia Nervosa

FAQ

How does Bulimia affect you mentally?

Bulimia, like all eating disorders, can leave lasting mental impacts. While in the thick of Bulimia, an individual often feels out of control, at the mercy of their eating disorder, unable to self-regulate or self-monitor. A binge is a way to emotionally soothe and regain some semblance of control, but afterward, feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment are common and recurring.

What mental illness does Bulimia fall into?

Bulimia Nervosa is its own independent mental illness, listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the manual used for assessment and diagnosis of mental disorders. Bulimia can also be part of a co-occurring disorder, where someone is diagnosed with two mental health or substance disorders at once. Some examples include:

Anxiety
Depression
Substance or alcohol use disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder

What are the emotional signs of Bulimia Nervosa?

Emotional signs of Bulimia Nervosa can look similar to those of other eating disorders: intense anxiety around body image, a distorted perception of one’s appearance, near-constant thoughts about food and bingeing, denial, social withdrawal, reclusive behaviour, and fixation on meals.

Is Bulimia a psychiatric disorder?

Bulimia isn’t classified as a psychiatric disorder on its own. That said, it’s possible for someone with a psychiatric disorder to also be diagnosed with Bulimia.

What’s the difference between Bulimia and Purging Disorder?

The main difference is the binge. Bulimia involves a binge-purge cycle, while Purging Disorder involves purging behaviour without the preceding binge episode.

Struggling with Bulimia? Treatment at EatWell can help you break the cycle!

Our team works with people at every stage of Bulimia, from managing urges to bingeing and purging, to healing the anxiety and shame that keep the cycle going. Sessions are available virtually across Canada, or in person in Toronto. No waitlist, no referral needed.

Book a free consultation →

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Bulimia Nervosa Explained: Symptoms, Physical Effects, and Treatment