Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder. People with
bulimia nervosa are overly concerned with their body’s shape and
weight and engage in detrimental behaviors in an attempt to
control their body image. Bulimia nervosa is often characterized
by a destructive pattern of binging (eating too much unhealthy
food) and inappropriate, reactionary behaviors to control one’s
weight following these episodes. Binge eating is the rapid
consumption of an unusually-large amount of food in a short
period of time. Unlike simple overeating, people who binge feel
“out of control” during these episodes. This means that one
“cannot stop the urge to eat” once it has begun, even after
their stomach is full. Binging may “feel good” initially, but it
quickly becomes distressing for the person who is absorbed in
this behavior. Food is often eaten secretly and quickly. A binge
is usually ended only with abdominal discomfort, social
interruption or running out of food. When the binge is over, the
person with bulimia often feels g