What constitutes “bulimia nervosa?
” Those suffering from bulimia nervosa alternately binge and purge, usually by vomiting, though other means of compensating for calories consumed include exercising excessively or using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics. After a binge – which involves losing control and eating more food than deemed acceptable-a bulimic feels disgusted and ashamed. The binge is usually triggered by a build-up of tension, often accompanied by negative emotions. The binge releases the tension and provides an escape from painful emotions. However, the binge itself results in shame, guilt, and self-blame, as well as fear of gaining weight, which usually leads to renewed attempts to restrict eating. Hunger and deprivation from restricting, plus other stresses that occur, cause another cycle of tension build-up, leading to yet another binge. The purge that follows each binge relieves the anxiety that the overindulgence will lead to weight gain. As in all eating disorders, a central feature of bulimia is a poor
