Bulimia

This is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent, uncontrollable binge eating episodes and constant concern about body weight. Bulimia is characterized by excessive eating followed by compensatory behaviors (self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, anorexia, etc.). Patients feel guilt, depression, decreased self-esteem. Bulimia nervosa is a disease in which patients weaken or lose the feeling of fullness, frequent mood swings. About 1.2–4.2% of adolescents and young people, about 4% of women and 0.5% of men suffer from it. They often have other typical disorders diagnosed. Unlike cases of neurogenic anorexia (NA), in neurogenic bulimia, body weight remains normal or slightly decreases. Neurogenic bulimia is much more common than NA and has a more favorable course. However, frequent vomiting causes esophagitis, pharyngitis, aspiration bronchial and lung damage, even arrhythmias. Over time, depression develops, with at least 5–6% of them ending in suicide. In NA, suicides are less common (about 1%). The course of both diseases in men is more complex than in women.

Source | Glossary of Most Commonly Used Biomedical Terms and Concepts | Lithuanian University of Health Sciences | Academician Professor Antanas Praškevičius, Professor Laima Ivanovienė