Bulimia nervosa (known as bulimia) is an eating disorder that affects up to one in 50 women and one in 500 men.

Bulimia is a very serious condition where a person eats large quantities of food while feeling they have lost control over the amount they eat (binge-eating) and then to try to get rid of food itself (for example by vomiting) or try to get rid of the effects of the food (for example by exercising or trying to cut down on eating after bingeing).

Laxatives or diuretics (which speed the passage of food and liquid through your body and can be very dangerous when misused) are often also taken in the mistaken belief that this will help prevent weight gain.

Page last updated on: 19^th April 2018