Adults, adolescents and teens struggling with bulimia nervosa may engage in recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. In someone suffering from bulimia, binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/or excessive exercise. The bulimic adult, teen or adolescent may stop only when the stomach feels painful from over-extension, at which point the bulimic may engage in self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This bulimic binge and purge cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day. Bulimia Nervosa is a disease that should be treated with compassion and medical intervention. Do not judge or condemn someone struggling with this serious medical disease.

If you suspect that you or someone you love is struggling with bulimia, we suggest that you immediately contact Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders for a free, no-pressure assessment by a trained eating disorder intake specialist.

Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa in adults, adolescents and teens include:

Chronic gastric reflux after eating, peptic ulcers
Cuts and injuries to the throat and lining of the mouth as a result of insuring objects into the mouth to induce vomiting.
Inflammation of the esophagus or a rupture in the wall of the esophagus wall due to vomiting
Swollen glands in the neck, under the jaw line. Swollen salivary glands.
Dehydration, constipation, hypokalemia, gastroparesis (delayed emptying)
Electrolyte imbalance, which can cause cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, and death.
Erosion of enamel on teeth due to frequent exposure of teeth to gastric acid.
Infertility
Calluses or scars on the back of the hands from self purging.
Constant weight fluctuations

Melissa Spann, PhD, LMHC, CEDS-S

Melissa Orshan Spann, PhD, LMHC, RTY 200, is Chief Clinical Officer at Monte Nido & Affiliates, overseeing the clinical operations and programming for over 50 programs across the U.S. Dr. Spann is a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and clinical supervisor as well as an accomplished presenter and passionate clinician who has spent her career working in the eating disorder field in higher levels of care. She is a member of the Academy for Eating Disorders and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals where she serves on the national certification committee, supervision faculty, and is on the board of her local chapter. She received her doctoral degree from Drexel University, master’s degree from the University of Miami, and bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.