What is bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors. The most common form is self-induced vomiting, sometimes called purging; the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and over exercising are also common.

How do members experience bulimia nervosa?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with bulimia nervosa*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for bulimia nervosa*

Who has bulimia nervosa on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 15
20s 75
30s 124
40s 70
50s 37
60s 16
70+ 8

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 26
Female 314

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What is bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating, followed by compensatory behaviors. The most common form is self-induced vomiting, sometimes called purging; the use of laxatives, enemas, diuretics, and over exercising are also common.



Common symptoms reported by people with bulimia nervosa

Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it

Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Last updated:



Treatments taken by people for bulimia nervosa

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have bulimia nervosa through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with bulimia nervosa? Members in the forum might have the answers.


Compare treatments taken by people with bulimia nervosa

Let’s build this page together! When you share what it’s like to have bulimia nervosa through your profile, those stories and data appear here too.

Got a question about living with bulimia nervosa? Members in the forum might have the answers.



Who has bulimia nervosa on PatientsLikeMe?

  • 2 new patients joined this month
  • 120 say bulimia nervosa is their primary condition

Age
Age Proportion # of patients
<20 15
20s 75
30s 124
40s 70
50s 37
60s 16
70+ 8
Age at first symptom
Age at first symptom Proportion # of patients
0-19 years 140
20-29 years 25
30-39 years 8
40-49 years 0
50-59 years 0
60-69 years 0
70+ years 0

Distribution of sex

Sex
Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 26
Female 314

Diagnosis status
Diagnosis status Proportion # of patients
Diagnosed 148
Not Diagnosed 63

These charts show data from bulimia nervosa patients who have completed their condition history
Last updated: