AboutKidsHealth

 

 

Bulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsBBulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsBulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsEnglishPsychiatryTeen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00Z9.8000000000000052.8000000000000592.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn how bulimia nervosa causes malnutrition and disrupts the body's usual functions.</p><p>Purging food over a period of time can lead to malnutrition. The body gets malnourished when it does not get enough nutrients to perform its usual functions.</p><p>Malnutrition can affect every part of the body. Below are some of bodily functions and parts of the body that most commonly experience medical complications in children and teens with bulimia nervosa.</p><h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Bulimia nervosa can result in a slow or irregular heart beat as well as very low blood pressure.</li><li>Over time, lack of vitamins and minerals can cause bones to become weaker, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures, and can cause hair to fall out.</li><li>Frequent vomiting can result in acid reflux and tooth decay from stomach acid eroding tooth enamel.</li><li>Purging the body of proper nutrients can also hinder brain function, resulting in difficulties with concentration and mood swings.</li><li>When the body is purged of food containing fats, it may not produce normal levels of hormones, which can have long-lasting effects on growth, puberty and menstrual cycles.</li></ul><h2>Low or irregular heart rate</h2><p>Bulimia nervosa can cause a person's heart rate to become critically slow (a condition known as bradycardia). The heart may also speed up abnormally when a person moves from lying down to standing up. A very slow or sudden change in heart rate makes it unsafe for someone to be out of hospital. Some people with bulimia nervosa also develop an abnormal heart rhythm due to changes in the body's chemicals caused by purging. They would need to be monitored in a hospital.</p><h2>Low blood pressure</h2><p>People with bulimia nervosa may have low blood pressure or may experience a drop in their blood pressure when they move from lying down to standing up. This puts them at risk of fainting.</p><h2>Weak bones</h2><p>Lack of <a href="/Article?contentid=1970&language=English">calcium or vitamin D</a> over a long period can cause bones to become weaker. This leaves someone with bulimia nervosa at risk of developing <a href="/Article?contentid=948&language=English">osteoporosis</a> or bone fractures in the future.</p><h2>Mood changes</h2><p>When the brain is starved of nutrients, a person with bulimia nervosa will experience more frequent changes in their mood and be less able to concentrate and think clearly.</p><h2>Reduced hormone levels</h2><p>With continued purging of foods containing fat, the body may not produce normal levels of hormones. In teenage girls, this can lead to abnormal or missed periods.</p><p>Younger children who experience bulimia nervosa may not go through puberty normally or may stop growing.</p><h2>Thinning hair</h2><p>Lack of vitamins and minerals can cause hair to become thinner or fall out.</p><h2>Tooth decay</h2><p>Because of repeated vomiting, acid from the stomach may start to wear away tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay.</p><h2>Low electrolyte levels</h2><p>Electrolytes include chemicals such as potassium, sodium and magnesium. These are needed to regulate the body's balance of fluids and salts. Purging can significantly disturb this balance, which can cause serious heart rhythm irregularities.</p><h2>Problems with the digestive system</h2><p>Frequent vomiting may lead to acid reflux from the stomach and inflammation or tears of the esophagus (gut). Repeated laxative use can also lead to constipation.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on bulimia nervosa, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Overview​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=283&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Signs and symptoms​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=706&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Treatment options</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=294&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: How to help your child at home​</a></p><h2>Resources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Infor​mation Centre</a> (Canada)</p><p> <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics – <em> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Is-Your-Teen-at-Risk-for-Developing-an-Eating-Disorder.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a> ​</em></p><p> <a href="https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/" target="_blank">BEAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p> <a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders​</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario – <a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank"> <em>Eating Disorders​</em></a></p>
Boulimie: complications médicalesBBoulimie: complications médicalesBulimia: Medical complicationsFrenchPsychiatryTeen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00Z000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Apprendre comment la boulimie cause la dénutrition et perturbe les fonctions régulières de l’organisme.</p><p>À la longue, se purger peut mener à la dénutrition. Le corps devient dénutri quand il ne reçoit pas assez de nutriments pour accomplir ses fonctions régulières.</p> <p>La dénutrition peut entraîner des troubles de tout l’organisme. Voici quelques-unes des fonctions corporelles et des parties du corps qui font le plus souvent l’objet de complications médicales chez les enfants et les adolescents boulimiques.</p><h2>À retenir</h2> <ul> <li>La boulimie peut provoquer un rythme cardiaque faible ou irrégulier, ainsi qu’une tension artérielle très basse.</li> <li>À la longue, une carence en vitamines et en minéraux peut affaiblir les os et provoquer l’ostéoporose ou des fractures et aussi causer la perte des cheveux.</li> <li>Les vomissements répétés peuvent causer le reflux gastrique et la carie dentaire à cause de l’érosion de l’émail des dents par l’acide.</li> <li>Éliminer les nutriments de l’organisme peut aussi entraver le fonctionnement du cerveau et provoquer des difficultés de concentration et des sautes d’humeur.</li> <li>Lorsque le corps est purgé d’aliments contenant des gras, il peut ne pas produire des niveaux normaux d’hormones, ce qui peut avoir des effets durables sur la croissance, la puberté et les cycles menstruels.</li> </ul><h2>Rythme cardiaque faible ou irrégulier</h2> <p>La boulimie peut provoquer une lenteur critique du rythme cardiaque (une affection appelée bradycardie). Le cœur peut aussi accélérer anormalement quand une personne se déplace d’une position couchée à une position debout. Il est dangereux d’être hors de l’hôpital lorsque son rythme cardiaque est très faible ou sujet à des changements brusques. Certains boulimiques développent aussi un rythme cardiaque anormal en raison des changements que provoquent les purges dans la composition chimiques de l’organisme. Ils auraient besoin d’être sous surveillance à l’hôpital.</p> <h2>Hypotension artérielle</h2> <p>Les boulimiques peuvent avoir une tension artérielle basse ou éprouver une baisse de tension artérielle lorsqu’ils se déplacent de la position couchée à la position debout. Cela les met à risque d’évanouissement.</p> <h2>Faiblesse des os</h2> <p>Une carence en calcium ou en vitamine D pendant une longue période peut rendre les os plus faibles, ce qui met le boulimique à risque de développer l’ostéoporose ou de subir des fractures d’os dans le futur.</p> <h2>Changements d’humeur</h2> <p>Lorsque le cerveau est privé de nutriments, le boulimique éprouvera des changements plus fréquents d’humeur et sera moins apte à se concentrer et à penser clairement.</p> <h2>Niveaux d’hormones réduits</h2> <p>Avec l’élimination continue des aliments contenant des gras, le corps peut ne pas produire des niveaux normaux d’hormones. Chez les filles adolescentes, cela peut provoquer des menstruations anormales ou irrégulières.</p> <p>Les enfants plus jeunes qui souffrent de boulimie peuvent ne pas avoir une puberté normale ou ils peuvent cesser de grandir.</p> <h2>Perte de cheveux</h2> <p>Une carence en vitamines et en minéraux peut causer l’amincissement ou la perte des cheveux.</p> <h2>Carie dentaire</h2> <p>En raison de vomissements répétés, l’acidité de l’estomac peut commencer à s’attaquer à l’émail des dents et causer la carie dentaire.</p> <h2>Faibles niveaux d’électrolytes</h2> <p>Les électrolytes sont des éléments chimiques tels que le potassium, le sodium et le magnésium. Ils sont nécessaires pour assurer l’équilibre des liquides et des sels dans l’organisme. Les purges peuvent considérablement perturber cet équilibre, ce qui peut provoquer de graves irrégularités du rythme cardiaque.</p> <h2>Troubles du système digestif</h2> <p>Des vomissements fréquents peuvent provoquer le reflux gastrique de l’estomac, et l’inflammation ou des lésions de l’œsophage (tube digestif). L’utilisation répétée de laxatifs peut aussi provoquer la constipation.</p><h2>En savoir plus</h2><p>Pour plus d’informations sur la boulimie, veuillez consulter les pages suivantes:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=French">Boulimie mentale: présentation générale</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=283&language=French">Boulimie: signes avant-coureurs</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=706&language=French">Boulimie: options de traitement</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=294&language=French">Boulimie: comment aider votre enfant à la maison</a></p><h2>Ressources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – Centre d’information sur les troubles alimentaires</a> (Canada)</p><p> <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/">NEDA – Association nationale des troubles alimentaires</a> (États-Unis)</p><p>L'académie américaine de pédiatrie – <em> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Is-Your-Teen-at-Risk-for-Developing-an-Eating-Disorder.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a></em></p><p> <a href="https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/" target="_blank">BEAT – Lutter contre les troubles alimentaires</a> (Royaume Uni)</p><p> <a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Troubles alimentaires Kelty</a> (Centre de ressources sur la santé mentale Kelty, Hôpital pour enfants de la Colombie-Britannique)</p><p>Le Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario – <a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/fr/troubles_alimentaires_info" target="_blank"> <em>Troubles de l'alimentation</em></a></p>

 

 

 

 

Bulimia nervosa: Medical complications281.000000000000Bulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsBulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsBEnglishPsychiatryTeen (13-18 years)NANAConditions and diseasesCaregivers Adult (19+)NA2016-02-02T05:00:00Z9.8000000000000052.8000000000000592.000000000000Health (A-Z) - ConditionsHealth A-Z<p>Learn how bulimia nervosa causes malnutrition and disrupts the body's usual functions.</p><p>Purging food over a period of time can lead to malnutrition. The body gets malnourished when it does not get enough nutrients to perform its usual functions.</p><p>Malnutrition can affect every part of the body. Below are some of bodily functions and parts of the body that most commonly experience medical complications in children and teens with bulimia nervosa.</p><h2>Key points</h2><ul><li>Bulimia nervosa can result in a slow or irregular heart beat as well as very low blood pressure.</li><li>Over time, lack of vitamins and minerals can cause bones to become weaker, resulting in osteoporosis or fractures, and can cause hair to fall out.</li><li>Frequent vomiting can result in acid reflux and tooth decay from stomach acid eroding tooth enamel.</li><li>Purging the body of proper nutrients can also hinder brain function, resulting in difficulties with concentration and mood swings.</li><li>When the body is purged of food containing fats, it may not produce normal levels of hormones, which can have long-lasting effects on growth, puberty and menstrual cycles.</li></ul><h2>Low or irregular heart rate</h2><p>Bulimia nervosa can cause a person's heart rate to become critically slow (a condition known as bradycardia). The heart may also speed up abnormally when a person moves from lying down to standing up. A very slow or sudden change in heart rate makes it unsafe for someone to be out of hospital. Some people with bulimia nervosa also develop an abnormal heart rhythm due to changes in the body's chemicals caused by purging. They would need to be monitored in a hospital.</p><h2>Low blood pressure</h2><p>People with bulimia nervosa may have low blood pressure or may experience a drop in their blood pressure when they move from lying down to standing up. This puts them at risk of fainting.</p><h2>Weak bones</h2><p>Lack of <a href="/Article?contentid=1970&language=English">calcium or vitamin D</a> over a long period can cause bones to become weaker. This leaves someone with bulimia nervosa at risk of developing <a href="/Article?contentid=948&language=English">osteoporosis</a> or bone fractures in the future.</p><h2>Mood changes</h2><p>When the brain is starved of nutrients, a person with bulimia nervosa will experience more frequent changes in their mood and be less able to concentrate and think clearly.</p><h2>Reduced hormone levels</h2><p>With continued purging of foods containing fat, the body may not produce normal levels of hormones. In teenage girls, this can lead to abnormal or missed periods.</p><p>Younger children who experience bulimia nervosa may not go through puberty normally or may stop growing.</p><h2>Thinning hair</h2><p>Lack of vitamins and minerals can cause hair to become thinner or fall out.</p><h2>Tooth decay</h2><p>Because of repeated vomiting, acid from the stomach may start to wear away tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay.</p><h2>Low electrolyte levels</h2><p>Electrolytes include chemicals such as potassium, sodium and magnesium. These are needed to regulate the body's balance of fluids and salts. Purging can significantly disturb this balance, which can cause serious heart rhythm irregularities.</p><h2>Problems with the digestive system</h2><p>Frequent vomiting may lead to acid reflux from the stomach and inflammation or tears of the esophagus (gut). Repeated laxative use can also lead to constipation.</p><h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information on bulimia nervosa, please see the following pages:</p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=282&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Overview​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=283&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Signs and symptoms​</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=706&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: Treatment options</a></p><p> <a href="/Article?contentid=294&language=English">Bulimia nervosa: How to help your child at home​</a></p><h2>Resources</h2><p> <a href="http://www.nedic.ca/" target="_blank">NEDIC – National Eating Disorder Infor​mation Centre</a> (Canada)</p><p> <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank">NEDA – National Eating Disorder Association</a> (United States)</p><p>American Academy of Pediatrics – <em> <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Is-Your-Teen-at-Risk-for-Developing-an-Eating-Disorder.aspx" target="_blank">​Eating Disorders in Children</a> ​</em></p><p> <a href="https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/" target="_blank">BEAT – Beating Eating Disorders</a> (United Kingdom)</p><p> <a href="https://keltyeatingdisorders.ca/" target="_blank">Kelty Eating Disorders​</a> (Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Children's Hospital)</p><p>Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario – <a href="https://www.cheo.on.ca/en/eating_disorder_info" target="_blank"> <em>Eating Disorders​</em></a></p><img alt="" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/bulimia_medical_complications.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/bulimia_medical_complications.jpgBulimia nervosa: Medical complicationsFalse

Thank you to our sponsors

AboutKidsHealth is proud to partner with the following sponsors as they support our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Canada and around the world by making accessible health care information available via the internet.

Our Sponsors

Find and follow us online
Monthly newsletter sign-up