Bulimia is an eating disorder where you can get into a cycle of “bingeing” (over-eating) and “purging” (trying to control your weight by making yourself sick, using laxatives, or over-exercising).

Although many of us will eat a bit more than usual on occasion, this is different to bingeing. Bingeing is not enjoyable; in fact, it is often very distressing and you do not feel in control of it. During a binge, you may struggle to stop even if you want to, and you may feel disconnected from your body – some people may even struggle to remember what they’ve eaten afterwards. It is usually a way of dealing with difficult feelings and emotions, and is often followed by a desire to purge.

You may feel that parts of your life are out of control and that purging or restricting calories gives you a sense of control. But bulimia can seriously damage your body, so it's important to get help and find other ways of coping.

Bulimia is a serious condition but there's support available to you to help you get through it.