Bulimia nervosa(otherwise known as bulimia) is a serious, potentially life threatening eating disorder characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food ( binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. The binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., self induced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/or excessive exercise. Bulimia nervosa affects 1-2% of adolescent and young adult women. 80% of bulimia nervosa patients are females.
