Effects of Bulimia Nervosa

These cycles often involve rapid and out-of-control eating, which may stop when the bulimic is interrupted by another person or the stomach hurts from overextension, followed by self-induced vomiting or other forms of purging. This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day, and may directly cause:

    * Chronic gastric reflux after eating
    * Dehydration and hypokalemia caused by frequent vomiting
    * Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, and even death
    * Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus
    * Oral trauma, in which repetitive insertion of fingers or other objects causes lacerations to the lining of the mouth or throat
    * Gastroparesis or delayed emptying
    * Constipation
    * Enlarged glands in the neck, under the jaw line
    * Peptic ulcers
    * Calluses or scars on back of hands due to repeated trauma from incisors

The frequent contact between teeth and gastric acid, in particular, may cause:

    * Severe caries
    * Perimolysis, or the erosion of tooth enamel
    * Swollen salivary glands