Bulimia is similar to anorexia nervosa in that the person
with bulimia is also obsessed with dieting, being thin and has a terror of
fatness. The main difference is that the bulimic woman does not starve as
anorexic women do, but overeats or binges. After bingeing, she will purge
herself of the food by deliberately vomiting or taking laxatives. Bulimia, like
anorexia can have serious physiological consequences. Constant vomiting may
upset the electrolyte balance of the body and cause potassium loss, which can
lead to fainting and even heart attacks.
Laxative abuse can result in problems such as kidney failure
and water on the lungs. It has been found that some people may be primarily
anorexic, but that they also force themselves to vomit or take laxatives when
they do t. Similarly, some bulimics may go through periods of starvation, which
may be followed by a binge. Therefore, the two problems are not very distinct,
and sufferers may have symptoms of both.
