
What is a binge purge cycle? The binge-purge cycle is a cycle of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions experienced by many people who suffer from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. A portion of this cycle may also be experienced by people with binge eating disorder. 1?
What happens when you binge and purge?
Mar 27, 2022 · Binging – The binge-purge cycle begins with your overeating. You might binge eat because you have poor eating habits and a very restrictive diet. Sometimes, you stay hungry for a long time and end up overeating. Additionally, feeling stressed, angry, sad, nervous, etc., can also result in binging.
How often do you binge and purge?
What is a binge purge cycle? The binge-purge cycle is a cycle of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions experienced by many people who suffer from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa. A portion of this cycle may also be experienced by people with binge eating disorder. 1? The cycle looks like this: diet-binge-purge-repeat. Click to see full answer.
Why is binge and purge cycle dangerous?
Apr 13, 2022 · What is the binge-purge cycle? So, what exactly is the binging and purging cycle? Binging is defined as eating a large amount of food in a short period of time. This can be done in secret or in public and often leaves the person feeling out of control, ashamed, and disgusted with themselves. Purging is then used as a way to “undo” the binge.
Do you gain the day after a binge and purge?
A pattern of sugar binge/deprivation causes the opioid and dopamine receptors in your brain to become sensitized, leading to withdrawal symptoms such as higher levels of depression, stress, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, and mood swings.

What does binge and purge mean?
Definition of binge and purge : to eat a lot of food and then force oneself to vomit so as not to gain weight Her college roommate used to binge and purge.
How do you break a binge purge cycle?
1. Stop the Binge-Purge CycleStop Restricting Your Food. ... Learn Your Triggers. ... Make a Plan to Overcome Bulimia. ... Explore Intuitive Eating in Recovery. ... Find Bulimia Treatment That Works for You. ... Distract Yourself From Your Anxiety. ... Embrace Health at Every Size™ ... Break Up With Your Scale.
What happens if you binge purge?
The cycle of bingeing and purging takes a toll on your body. It can cause damage to everything from your heart and digestive system to your teeth and gums. It can create other problems as well, including: Dehydration.
How many times do you binge and purge a day?
Some people binge and purge several times a day and some only once or twice each month. Research shows that the frequency of binge eating episodes among bulimics varies from 1 per week to 46 times.
How many calories do you absorb when you binge purge?
Purging does NOT prevent weight gain Vomiting immediately after eating won't eliminate more than 50% of the calories consumed— usually much less. This is because calorie absorption begins the moment you put food in the mouth. Laxatives and diuretics are even less effective.
How can you tell if someone is purging?
These are some common warning signs of bulimia nervosa:Frequently weighs themselves.Often judges their appearance in the mirror.Won't eat at restaurants.Always on a new diet.Doesn't eat at regular mealtimes.Keeps large amounts of food around the house.Large amounts of food suddenly disappear.More items...
What are 3 warning signs of bulimia?
What are the Warning Signs of Bulimia?Episodes of binge eating.Self-induced vomiting.Smelling like vomit.Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.Complaining about body image.Expressing guilt or shame about eating.Depression.Irritability.More items...•
Do you get calories if you chew food spit out?
For another thing, we do take in lots of calories when we chew food and spit it out. We can get a hefty dose of sugar and fat that clings to the tongue and unwittingly passes into our digestive system. If you chew and spit a box of chocolates you will absorb about a third of it.
Can you purge without binging?
Purging disorder is an eating disorder that is diagnosed when a person purges to influence body shape or weight but does not binge. It can be thought of as bulimia nervosa without bingeing.
What triggers a binge?
Environmental triggers Certain social situations, such as a dinner out with friends, going to a party. Seeing certain types of food might also make you eat when you're not feeling hungry, such as a cookie box at work. Large portion sizes and large packaging make it hard to stop eating when you're feeling full.
What is the binge purge cycle?
The binge-purge cycle is a cycle of behaviors, thoughts, and emotions experienced by many people who suffer from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa.
What does "binge" mean in bulimia?
Similarly, you may ask, what does binge and purge mean? Bulimia nervosa, also known as simply bulimia, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging. Binge eating refers to eating a large amount of food in a short amount of time. Purging refers to the attempts to get rid of the food consumed.
How to stop binge eating?
Practice mindfulness. Develop a plan for when urges to binge or purge hit. Agree to delay binge eating or purging. Write a letter to yourself. Make a list of positive affirmations. Identify the thoughts that typically precipitate a binge or purge.
What is the goal of binging and purging?
Or a goal might be to create new, empowering, loving habits. Another might be to begin introducing more nutritious foods to your daily experience.
What happens when you binge on sugar?
A pattern of sugar binge/deprivation causes the opioid and dopamine receptors in your brain to become sensitized, leading to withdrawal symptoms such as higher levels of depression, stress, anxiety, irritability, nervousness, and mood swings.

Triggering Events
- It is important to recognize that the model above, derived from cognitive-behavioral therapy, shows how a binge cycle is maintained. It does not indicate how the eating disorder first developed. Every binge cycle has an event or series of events that trigger the cycle. These triggers need not have caused the eating disorder itself—in many cases, the triggering events or emotion…
Binge-Eating Episode
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating, which includes a loss of control (LOC) over eating during the episode, is a key feature of binge eating disorder, or BED. If someone does not have LOC, it could just simply be overeating and is different than BED with LOC. Many people describe binges in terms of feeling "out of control" or not really even knowing how much they are eating. Some peo…
Forbidden Foods
- Binge eating is one of the main behaviors in the binge-purge cycle. It may begin innocently with eating a small portion of food that is typically considered “off-limits.” After eating this portion many people feel guilty and decide to “eat the rest” as they’ve already “blown their diet” and woul…
Physical and Emotional Impact
- After a binge, most people feel uncomfortable, or even painfully, full. This feeling goes beyond the fullness you experience after, say, a major holiday meal with family and friends. It's simply the result of eating so much. Along with these physical pains comes emotional pain, possibly including feelings of embarrassment, shame, guilt, disgust and/or self-criticism. These emotion…
Purging Episode
- For many sufferers, the time span between binging and purging is very short. Purging becomes a way to relieve oneself of the negative feelings (physical and emotional) of the binge. Most people think of purging as self-induced vomiting, but it can also include laxative and/or diuretic use. Sometimes people use other behaviors, such as exercise, to compensate for the additional calor…
Calm Period Before Cycle Restarts
- After a binge and purge episode, there may be a period of calm. At this point, a person may resolve to never binge or purge again. He or she may even decide to begin restricting his or her food intake. Unfortunately, this will simply lead to binge eating again.4 There are also people who acknowledge that they will likely binge and purge again. They feel hopeless to stop the cycle.
A Word from Verywell
- If you are experiencing bingeing and purging, the first thing is to know that recovery is possible. You may be able to apply some strategies on your own. Keep food records to understand your own patterns. Learn some strategies for breaking the cycle. Finally, seek help from a qualified professional.