Bulimia nervosa is one of several eating disorders that affects many Americans, both male and female, and of all ethnicities. This serious eating disorder affects the self-esteem, emotional well-being, and physical health of Americans each year. In fact, during cases of bulimia, people will go to extreme measure to lose weight loss or prevent weight gain. But what is bulimia? And what causes this type of particular eating disorder?

What is bulimia?
People who experience bulimia nervosa pay extra attention to the size and weight of their body. Although people with bulimia may and do have a normal, healthy weight, they are deeply dissatisfied with their weight and size. Their perception of their body is that it is not 'skinny' enough, or is 'too fat.' Therefore, bulimia is defined by the desire to lose weight, and prevention of weight gain.

Specifically, weight loss during bulimia is characterized by a binge and purge cycle. During a binge episode, a person with bulimia eats extreme amounts of food, and feels a lack of control over this large amount of eating. Thereafter, feeling guilty or ashamed of the amount eaten, they try to 'purge' themselves of food or calories by one or several of purging techniques including :

• extreme amounts of exercise
• fasting
• use of diuretics
• use of laxatives
• vomiting

Bulimia is not merely an attempt to lose weight in genuinely overweight women. It's a serious mental disorder that poses emotional and physical health consequences to women and men, and possibly unborn children. What then are the causes of bulimia?  Read more about bulimia causes here.