Text Link

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

Learn more about the results we get at Within

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.

What is bulimia bloat?

No items found.
No items found.

Bulimia bloat refers to the distended belly that commonly occurs in people who are struggling with or in recovery from bulimia nervosa (BN). Bulimia bloat is usually caused by excess gas in the digestive tract and constipation and can be very painful.

It can also be troubling to experience, evoking negative emotions around body image, food, and eating. But bulimia bloat is treatable, with symptoms typically lasting for just a few weeks until eating patterns stabilize and the digestive system heals.

Our program can help

86% of our patients reported an improved quality of life post treatment.

How we do it

12
 sources cited
Last updated on 
March 3, 2023
In this article
doctor with patient

Causes of bulimia bloat

Bulimia bloat is common, with 68% of participants who had bulimia in one study reporting bloating and flatulence, as well as other gastrointestinal symptoms. (1) Below are some common causes of bulimia bloating. (2)

  1. Restricting eating followed by binging and purging

This cycle strains the GI tract and disrupts digestion. When food cannot be broken down properly, the flora is disrupted and unhealthy bacteria preside, causing production of large amounts of gas. Binging and purging leads to electrolyte imbalance, which causes additional complications.

  1. Constipation

When someone with bulimia purges food eaten, the food never has the opportunity to make it down through the entire GI tract. Likewise, using laxatives on and off confuses the GI tract about when food is coming into the digestive tract. Constipation occurs when there is a lack of regularity with food coming into the GI tract and fermentation of the food that has not come out of the GI tract. This leads to bulimia bloating.

  1. Highly processed food and insufficient nutrients

Processed and devitalized food lacks the proper flora the digestive system needs to feed its army of helpful probiotics. Improper flora means unhealthy bacteria gain predominance and produce gas that contributes to bulimia bloating.

  1. Food allergies or intolerances

When the gut isn’t working properly, spaces may appear between the cells that allow food proteins to leak into the bloodstream. Once this happens, food sensitivities or allergies may develop. Once the reactions to these food proteins occur, bloating may result. 

  1. Inability to digest food properly due to lack of enzymes

Malnutrition can lead to the inability to produce enough enzymes to digest food. This occurs because, when food intake decreases, cells make changes to decrease normal enzyme output. When someone then suddenly binges, the number of enzymes produced simply cannot handle the amount of food to digest. Bloating occurs, along with other symptoms.

  1. Inability to digest lactose, fructose, and other sugars

Eating foods high in lactose causes bloating in those who cannot digest this sugar. The same thing is true with fructose and different types of fake sugars (sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol).

  1. Eating too many high fiber foods in a short period of time

Eating high fiber foods one day and then not the next can be tricky. The digestive system thrives on normal routines. Fiber draws water to itself, which can be responsible for abdominal swelling. 

  1. Water retention

This is common in those with bulimia, and it often accompanies the bulimia bloat. When starting to eat again after a period of not eating, there will be water retention. Foods containing carbohydrates attract water to themselves.

{{link-bank-one-column}}

How does bulimia bloat differ from regular bloating? 

While bulimia bloat refers to something that happens in those who have bulimia, it is similar to regular bloating, as gastrointestinal symptoms in people who have eating disorders likely represent the same GI complications that occur in people who do not have eating disorders. (1)

Regular bloating may occur in a person who does not have bulimia for many of the same reasons mentioned above – constipation, highly processed foods, food intolerances, lack of digestive enzymes, inability to digest certain substances, too many high fiber foods in a short period of time, and water retention. 

Supported meals

Through our supported meals, we help you become reacquainted with your body’s hunger and fullness, and to respond appropriately to those cues

Have Questions? | 866-293-0041

How to treat bulimia bloat and ease discomfort?

The body gets rid of gas by burping or by passing it out through the rectum, which will ease discomfort naturally. There are also many other natural ways to eliminate the gas in bulimia bloat, including drinking mint tea and taking probiotics. 

However, it is best to seek help from professionals who specialize in eating disorders to address underlying psychological issues driving the disordered eating behaviors, as well as treat the physical complications.

Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.

Resources

  1. Abraham, S., & Kellow, J. E. (2013). Do the digestive tract symptoms in eating disorder patients represent functional gastrointestinal disorders? BMC Gastroenterology, 13, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-13-38 
  2. Forney, K.J., Buchman-Schmitt, J.M., Keel, P.K., Frank, G.K. (2016, March). The medical complications associated with purging. International Journal of Eating Disorders; 49(3):249-59. doi: 10.1002/eat.22504. Epub 2016 Feb 15. PMID: 26876429; PMCID: PMC4803618

FAQs

Further reading

Heart issues from bulimia nervosa

Can your heart recover from bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by a cycle of restricting food, binging, and...
Bulimia and anemia

Treating bulimia and anemia

Bulimia and anemia tend to coexist. Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a type of eating disorder involving restricting...
Can bulimia cause high cholesterol?

Can bulimia cause high cholesterol?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) causes many short-term physical effects. However, long-ranging health concerns are...
Bulimia facts and statistics

Bulimia facts and statistics

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by a recurrent cycle of binging and purging...

Bulimia’s impact on your sleep

Bulimia nervosa (BN) can have a significant impact on numerous aspects of...

Does bulimia cause hearing loss?

Most people are familiar with the digestive system complications bulimia...

Why does bulimia cause broken blood vessels?

Attempts at vomiting put extra pressure on the blood vessels of the...

What is bulimia bloat?

Bulimia bloat refers to the distended belly that commonly occurs in people who...

Which digestive problems does bulimia cause?

‍Bulimia nervosa (BN) affects as many as 300 women per 100,000 women between the...

Why does bulimia shaking occur?

Shaking, or trembling, can sometimes occur after purging in individuals with...

Can stomach ulcers develop from bulimia?

The connection between bulimia and stomach ulcers is due to stomach...

Bulimia nervosa and thyroid issues

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder characterized by binging and...

What is sialadentis, or bulimia cheeks?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is one of the most widely-recognized eating disorders impacting...

How bulimia can (permanently) affect your teeth

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious psychiatric disorder that involves frequent...

What are the complications of bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) can be a particularly difficult disorder to endure, both...

What are bulimia teeth?

When someone purges, which happens frequently when someone has bulimia nervosa...

The relationship between bulimia, skin, and acne

The dehydration and malnutrition that can occur in those with bulimia nervosa can do...

Is there a relationship between bulimia, acid reflux, and GERD?

Acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are medical conditions that...

Is hair loss a symptom of bulimia nervosa?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that can lead to many medical comp...

How does bulimia affect the jaw?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that affects many parts of the body, incl...

How bulimia affects your period

Bulimia nervosa (BN) may cause changes in your menstrual cycle, or period. It has...

How bulimia affects the upper GI and respiratory tract

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that involves frequent purging...

How bulimia affects your knuckles

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder, in which people engage in eating...

Help for bleeding caused by bulimia

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder that can have numerous medical...

Can bulimia cause cancer?

Some diseases are more likely to lead to cancer than others. For example, alcoholism...
Russell's sign

Russell's sign: bulimia knuckles, hands and fingers

Although bulimia nervosa (BN) is an insidious disease, usually characterized by secretive behavior to mask...

Bulimia nervosa headaches

It’s common for individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) to experience headaches. One...

Bulimia and pregnancy complications and birth defects

Pregnancy can be an exciting time for a mother-to-be. Many expectant mothers look...