Medical complications of bulimia nervosa

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
By Allison Nitsch, MD, FACP, CEDS Dennis Gibson, MD, FACP, CEDS Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Abstract

Bulimia nervosa, a mental illness 4 times more common than anorexia nervosa, is characterized by binge-eating followed by compensatory purging behaviors, which include self-induced vomiting, diuretic abuse, laxative abuse, and misuse of insulin. Patients with bulimia nervosa are at risk of developing medical complications that affect all body systems, especially the renal and electrolyte systems. Behavior cessation can reverse some, but not all, medical complications.

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3949/ccjm.88a.20168
Written by
Allison Nitsch, MD

Allison Nitsch, MD, FACP, CEDS

Allison Nitsch, MD, FACP, CEDS-C, serves as the Physician Team Lead at the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders and Malnutrition, a role she has held since January 2024 after joining ACUTE in 2020. Dr.…
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Headshot of Dennis Gibson

Dennis Gibson, MD, FACP, CEDS

Dennis Gibson, MD, FACP, CEDS serves as a consulting physician for ACUTE. Dr. Gibson joined ACUTE in 2017 and has since dedicated his clinical efforts to the life-saving medical care of patients with…
Written by
Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS

Philip S. Mehler, MD, FACP, FAED, CEDS, founded the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition in 2001. He began his career at Denver Health more than 35 years ago and previously…

ACUTE Earns Prestigious Center of Excellence Designation from Anthem
In 2018, the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders & Severe Malnutrition at Denver Health was honored by Anthem Health as a Center of Excellence for Medical Treatment of Severe and Extreme Eating Disorders. ACUTE is the first medical unit ever to achieve this designation in the field of eating disorders. It comes after a rigorous review process.

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