Bulimia

Abstract

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by episodes of binge eating (bulimic episodes) accompanied by behaviors to avoid weight gain such as self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives and diuretics or compulsive exercise. The condition usually affects young people and has a presumed multifactorial etiology, including the great concern with having a body considered perfect, genetic and biological, psychological and family factors. According to statistics, teenagers are twice as likely to have bulimia nervosa than anorexia nervosa. The disorder can bring several clinical complications such as constipation, dehydration, pancreatitis, esophagitis, gastrointestinal bleeding.