Bulimia and Gender

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging; fasting; the use of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics; and overexercising to burn excess calories. Bulimia nervosa can lead to a variety of health risks, including damage to dental enamel and gum tissue, gastrointestinal problems, and death. In fact, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health issue; an estimated 4% of those suffering from bulimia nervosa will die from it. This entry offers a definition of bulimia nervosa and discusses gender differences in symptomology, prevalence rates, and known individual and environmental risk factors, as well as how gender affects both prevention and treatment.