In this serious eating disorder, a person eats a lot of food in a short amount of time. This is called bingeing. After bingeing, the person then does something to get rid of the food, this is called purging. While bingeing, the person feels out of control, like he or she just cannot stop. Afterwards, the person often feels guilty and then vomits, exercises a lot, or takes laxatives to keep from gaining weight.
Most bulimics are female, and bulimia usually starts in the teens or early twenties.
About 5 percent of high school and college-aged women are bulimic, but some experts think the numbers are higher among groups like athletes and sororities. Nobody knows what causes bulimia, but there are probably many causes, and these may be different for different people. Many with this disorder have a poor self-image, and may be easily ashamed and depressed. Either habit can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause heart failure. Bulimia can be treated.