Long Term Effects of Bulimia Nervosa and Finding Hope

Woman with Bulimia in leaves

Contributor: Crystal Karges, MS, RDN, IBCLC, Director of Content and Social Media at Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope

The mention of the word bulimia can conjure many stigmas and stereotypes about this very serious eating disorder. Individuals who struggle with bulimia engage in a recurring cycle of binging and purging, where compensatory mechanisms are used in attempt to rid the body of food that has been eaten.

Contrary to the mainstream ideas that may be believed about bulimia nervosa, this is not a disease that individuals willingly chose to have. The repetitive nature of the binge/purge cycle is not something that can necessarily be stopped willingly, as professional interventions are often needed.

Ongoing Patterns

A person who is dealing with bulimia often suffers in silence and shame until it is medically necessary to get help, if a family member becomes aware of what is occurring, or it becomes impossible to function and carry out normal day to day tasks. Sadly, even if these points have been reached, the consequences that result from bulimia are severe and often difficult to recover from. Many individuals suffering with bulimia are “high functioning”, meaning that they are able to continue fulfilling daily responsibilities despite having a debilitating disease.

The shame related to bulimia can also make it difficult to reach out for help, even when struggling with painful consequences. It can also become easy to normalize behaviors or symptoms related to bulimia. For example, physical symptoms that may be experienced, like gastrointestinal distress or heart palpitations, can easily be brushed aside or ignored. Eating disorders are complex diseases to understand, let alone explain to family, friends, and loved ones. This may result in a person dealing with bulimia for years before actually seeking out professional help.

Long Term Effects of Bulimia

Bulimia results in many damaging effects, including physical, psychological, financial, social and more. The longer a person is actively engaging in this disease and associated behaviors, the increased risk for harming oneself in one of these areas.

Friends supporting each otherWhile long term effects will vary from person to person depending on the severity of the disease, types of behaviors engaging in, medical history, presence of any other co-occurring disorders, and more, there are certain things that may be expected. Physically, a person dealing with bulimia may suffer with chronic dehydration from purging, diuretic and/or laxative use. Over the long term, this can lead to cardiovascular complications from electrolyte imbalance, blood pressure abnormalities, kidney failure and more. A person who is chronically binging and purging will also tend to suffer with gastrointestinal distress, like indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and heartburn.

Mentally and psychologically, a person with bulimia may be dealing with poor self-esteem and body image, depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders. Relationships often get pushed to the backburner when dealing with bulimia, particularly over long periods of time. It is not uncommon to neglect loved ones, skip out on social events, or even find it difficult to be intimate with a spouse or partner due to the straining effects of bulimia.

Other ramifications of bulimia also include financial. Financing a binge can become quite costly, especially when done repeatedly. Finances can also be jeopardized if a sufferer becomes unable to work, is having to call in sick often, or loses a job due to bulimia. This can put additional strains on a person already facing difficult consequences from bulimia.

There is Always Hope

No matter how long a person has dealt with bulimia, it is never too late to get help. There is not an age or time limit for seeking out help and beginning to improve one’s overall quality of life. However, postponing treatment can delay the inevitable and worsen the many side effects that are often experienced with bulimia.

If you or a loved one has been suffering with bulimia, take the opportunity to connect with someone you trust to begin your journey towards recovery. You are deserving of help, freedom, and ultimately, the opportunity to truly thrive in life.

Community Discussion – Share Your Thoughts Here!

What do you think makes it difficult about asking for help when struggling with bulimia?


Crystal Headshot 2About the Author: Crystal is a Masters-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with a specialty focus in eating disorders, maternal/child health and wellness, and intuitive eating. Combining clinical experience with a love of social media and writing, Crystal serves as the Special Projects Coordinator for Eating Disorder Hope/Addiction Hope, where her passion to help others find recovery and healing is integrated into each part of her work.

As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Crystal has dedicated her career to helping others establish a healthy relationship with food and body through her work with EDH/AH and nutrition private practice.


The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.

We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help.

Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on July 31, 2016
Published on EatingDisorderHope.com