Do All Bulimics Vomit Food to Lose Weight?

Most bulimics use vomiting to lose weight, but not all bulimics vomit food by purging. Another type of purging, laxative abuse, is one more way bulimics get rid of unwanted food to lose weight. According to Your Total Health, bulimics diagnosed with non-purging bulimia also get rid of food by fasting or exercising excessively. All vomiting methods pose a severe health risk to bulimics, risking their mental and physical health.

Other Types of Vomiting: Laxative Abuse
Laxative abuse is the most common vomiting method besides purging. Bulimics "vomit" food by overdosing on laxatives and then expelling the undigested matter through their rectum. Laxatives speed up the process by triggering the digestive system to rush the food through its system. Many bulimics believe this causes weight loss. Although this is not true -- the body already absorbs the calories when it rushes through the intestines -- laxatives cause temporary water loss. Abusing laxatives causes the body to depend on laxatives to even have normal bowel movement, and over time bulimics become addicted to it. Laxatives are just as dangerous as vomiting, and can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Other Types of Vomiting: Fasting
Bulimics also compensate for binging by fasting, eliminating food and caloric juices from their diet. Fasting severely restricts calories and causes immediate water loss. Prolonged fasts, fasts that occur for one to two weeks, promote unhealthy rapid weight loss. Fasting is similar to vomiting because it eliminate calories from the body quickly and has serious health complications.

Other Types of Vomiting: Excessive Exercise
Bulimics also "vomit" food by exercising excessively, sometimes for three to four hours at a time. This quickly burns off the calories consumed. Although it does not have immediate health complications, it affects bulimics mentally and increases the chance of developing injuries.

Note: Another subset of Anorexia Nervosa, called Anorexia Athletica, is often consumed with this type of non-purging bulimia. Bulimics who overexercise eventually binge and repeat the cycle; anorexics who compulsively exercise continue to restrict calories despite how much they work out.

Fact: Not All Bulimics Vomit Food With Purging
Do bulimics only vomit? No, they don't, and they use various methods for getting rid of food. Bulimia Nervosa is a complicated and varied disorder, and bulimics will go to desperate lengths to purge the food from their system. Beware, dieters: all methods of vomiting pose a danger to a bulimic's mental and physical health and should never be practiced to lose weight. If you suspect you may have Bulimia, seek professional help immediately.

Sources:
"Bulimia Nervosa" (Your Total Health at iVillage.com)