Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by periods of binge eating. In some cases, the person will compensate for this overeating by forcing vomiting; misusing laxatives, diuretics, or enemas; fasting; or excessive exercising. People with bulimia cannot control their eating and have a paralyzing fear of becoming fat. Bulimia is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders and shares symptoms with anorexia nervosa, another major eating disorder. Because many individuals with bulimia maintain a normal or above-normal body weight, they are able to keep their condition a secret for years. This disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating, occurring at least twice a month for a minimum of three months, which consists of:

• Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances

• A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)

Bulimia is often accompanied by the following signs and symptoms:

• Binge eating of high-carbohydrate foods, usually in secrecy

• Loss of control over eating, with guilt and shame

• Body weight that goes up and down

• Constipation, diarrhea, nausea, gas, abdominal pain

• Dehydration

• Blood-tinged vomit

• Irregular menstruation or cessation of menstrual periods

• Eroded tooth enamel

• Bad breath

• Throat irritation and inflammation

• Calluses on hands from forcing the body to vomit

• Stealing, especially food

• Depression

• Substance abuse, especially alcohol

Individuals with bulimia may also experience depression, self-mutilation, and obsessive-compulsive behavior. Cultural pressures to appear slender contribute to the disorder, particularly among dancers and athletes. Those at higher risk for this disease include white middle-class women, a family history of mood disorders, a family history of substance abuse, and individuals with low self-esteem. Emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with bulimia may include:

• Constant dieting

• Feeling that you can't control your eating behavior

• Eating until the point of discomfort or pain

• Eating much more food in a binge episode than in a normal meal or snack

• Exercising for hours on end

• Misuse of laxatives, diuretics or enemas

• Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight

• Having a distorted, excessively negative body image

• Going to the bathroom after eating or during meals

• Hoarding food

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Secretly picking at food, then placing it back to try and disguise eating any

Binges often occur in private. You may raid the cupboards when home alone, for instance. Or you may make the rounds of several fast-food restaurants during one bingeing episode, secretly eating in your car between stops. Once the binge episode ends, the purging begins. This may mean heading to the bathroom to vomit or hitting the treadmill for hours of exercise. Because most people with bulimia are of normal weight or even slightly overweight, it may not be readily apparent that something is wrong.

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http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/bulimia-nervosa-000020.htm