I Feel Dehydrated | Bulimia Symptoms of Concern

Bulimia dehydration should be addressed quickly to prevent serious and potentially dangerous side effects.

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by cycles of binge eating and purging behavior. In many cases, people struggling with BN have other issues related to stress, anxiety, depression, or trauma in their lives, and their eating disorder behaviors manifest as maladaptive coping mechanisms for these strong and unpleasant emotions.

During a binge eating session, someone will generally eat an objectively large amount of food within a short period of time and experience a sensation of losing control over how much or what is eaten.¹ Purging is done as an attempt to “compensate” for binge eating and can take several forms, including self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, fasting, or the misuse of laxatives or diuretics.

Combined, these behaviors can create a number of serious physical health complications. While dehydration is not as well-recognized as other symptoms of bulimia, it nonetheless represents a dangerous complication.

Bulimia and Dehydration: What’s the Connection?

Can bulimia cause dehydration? Though it may not seem obvious, the answer is yes. Most often, dehydration in bulimia is associated with purging.

Vomiting and Diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea are both known to cause dehydration.² Self-induced vomiting is one of the most common purging methods used with BN, and laxative misuse could cause diarrhea or related issues. The more frequently these actions are taken, the more severe the dehydration can become.

Electrolyte Imbalances

The unhelpful cycle of binging and purging involved with BN also very frequently leads to electrolyte imbalances.³ Electrolytes are important minerals in the body that help regulate internal fluid levels. An electrolyte imbalance can either be the cause of or be caused by severe dehydration.⁴ Further, vomiting and diarrhea can also lead to electrolyte imbalances.⁴

Too Much Salt

If someone binges on food that’s heavily salted, this may also contribute to issues of dehydration related to bulimia nervosa, especially if the person doesn’t drink enough water to balance out this effect.

Bulimia and Dehydration: What are the Risks?

The risks of dehydration involved with bulimia nervosa can be severe. The type of electrolyte imbalances that often accompany dehydration in bulimia can lead to a number of serious health issues, including an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and kidney complications.^5,6

One study on the subject found that women with a history of bulimia nervosa had more than a 4-times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than women with no history of BN, thanks, in part, to electrolyte imbalances. Unfortunately, the study found the elevated risk of premature death for women with bulimia to be at a similar rate.⁵

Likewise, kidney issues, including renal injury and chronic kidney disease, have been connected to the type of electrolyte imbalances that are common in people with bulimia nervosa.⁶ These issues may require serious medical interventions, such as dialysis, to treat and can eventually become deadly.

Continuing the binging and purging behaviors associated with bulimia nervosa increases the risk of becoming dehydrated or severely dehydrated. If left untreated, these and many more health problems may occur.

How to Treat Bulimia Dehydration

Mild dehydration can usually be helped by drinking more liquids, especially water or liquids high in electrolytes, such as sports drinks or coconut water. Avoiding drinks like coffee, tea, and alcohol can also be helpful.⁸

If it’s difficult to consume water, or you find yourself involuntarily vomiting the liquids back up, try drinking smaller amounts more frequently. Certain powders or mixes can also help. Specially formulated to combat dehydration, they can be added to liquids to offer a further boost in necessary minerals.⁸

Severe dehydration is a serious medical diagnosis and should be treated immediately. In these cases, it’s important to seek medical help as quickly as possible. At a hospital, treatment can include IV fluids and other methods to quickly reestablish internal fluid balance.⁸

Still, the best way to treat dehydration related to bulimia nervosa is to treat bulimia nervosa itself. As long as binging and purging behaviors continue, it’s likely that someone who struggles with bulimia and dehydration will continue to feel dehydrated.

Finding Help for Bulimia Nervosa

If you or a loved one are struggling with BN or other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa or binge eating disorder, it’s important to seek out help.

Many treatments have been developed to help with these conditions, including several types of therapy and some medications. Generally, a combination of treatment methods is used to help combat these complex disorders, such as:

• Individual therapy
• Group therapy
• Nutritional education and counseling
• Medical interventions

You may want to reach out to your primary care physician, therapist, or another licensed medical professional with your concerns. They can help you locate appropriate treatment programs and get started on your journey to healing.

It can feel scary to reach out about something as serious as an eating disorder, but it’s the best way to overcome the mental, physical, and emotional complications the disorders can cause. And no matter where you are in your journey, it’s never too late to start working toward a healthier future.

FAQs

Can Bulimia Cause Dehydration?

Yes. Self-induced vomiting and the misuse of laxatives and diuretics are common purging behaviors involved in bulimia nervosa, and they can also frequently lead to dehydration. Someone may also experience bulimia-related dehydration if they binge on salty foods and don’t drink enough water afterward.