Overview. Bulimia (boo-LEE-me-uh) nervosa, commonly called bulimia, is a serious, potentially life-threatening eating disorder. People with ...Scheduleyourappointmentnowforsafein-personcare.Learnmore:MayoClinicfactsaboutcoronavirusdisease2019(COVID-19)Our COVID-19patient andvisitorguidelines,plustrustedhealthinformationLateston COVID-19vaccination bysite:ArizonapatientvaccinationupdatesArizona,FloridapatientvaccinationupdatesFlorida,RochesterpatientvaccinationupdatesRochesterandMayoClinicHealthSystempatientvaccinationupdatesMCHSSkiptositenavigationSkiptoContentThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion.SectionsforBulimianervosaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsPrintOverviewBulimia(boo-LEE-me-uh)nervosa,commonlycalledbulimia,isaserious,potentiallylife-threateningeatingdisorder.Peoplewithbulimiamaysecretlybinge—eatinglargeamountsoffoodwithalossofcontrolovertheeating—andthenpurge,tryingtogetridoftheextracaloriesinanunhealthyway.Togetridofcaloriesandpreventweightgain,peoplewithbulimiamayusedifferentmethods.Forexample,youmayregularlyself-inducevomitingormisuselaxatives,weight-losssupplements,diureticsorenemasafterbingeing.Oryoumayuseotherwaystoridyourselfofcaloriesandpreventweightgain,suchasfasting,strictdietingorexcessiveexercise.Ifyouhavebulimia,you'reprobablypreoccupiedwithyourweightandbodyshape.Youmayjudgeyourselfseverelyandharshlyforyourself-perceivedflaws.Becauseit'srelatedtoself-image—andnotjustaboutfood—bulimiacanbehardtoovercome.Buteffectivetreatmentcanhelpyoufeelbetteraboutyourself,adopthealthiereatingpatternsandreverseseriouscomplications.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinicSymptomsBulimiasignsandsymptomsmayinclude:BeingpreoccupiedwithyourbodyshapeandweightLivinginfearofgainingweightRepeatedepisodesofeatingabnormallylargeamountsoffoodinonesittingFeelingalossofcontrolduringbingeing—likeyoucan'tstopeatingorcan'