In this serious eating disorder, a person eats a lot of food in a short amount of time. This is called bingeing. While bingeing, the person feels out of control, like she just can't stop. Afterwards, she 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 1 to 3 percent of the population is bulimic, but some think the numbers are higher among groups like athletes and sororities. Nobody knows what causes bulimia, but there are probably many causes. These causes may be different for different people. Many with this disorder have a poor self-image, and may be easily ashamed and depressed. Bulimia is especially dangerous when vomiting or laxatives are used.