Hertfordshire Community Eating Disorders Service
(CEDS)
The Effects of Self – Induced Vomiting on Physical Health.
You may make yourself sick after eating or bingeing in the hope that it will
help you control your food intake and your weight. Whilst on the surface it
seems a perfect way of eating freely without gaining weight
( although it is important to be aware that this is far from true since around
1200 kcals are retained if vomiting occurs after a binge ), there are many
health risks involved with this behaviour.
Electrolyte (body salts) imbalance
When you vomit you will not only get rid of the food you have eaten, but also
many essential salts “ potassium, sodium and chloride “ that keep nerve and
muscle function normal. This leads to:
 Irregular heart beat/palpitations
 Fatigue
 Muscle weakness and spasms (made worse by over exercise)
 Irritability
 Convulsions
 Cardiac failure
Dehydration
Consistently making yourself sick will lead to dehydration. The effects of
chronic dehydration are.
 Feeling thirsty all the time
 Light- headedness
 Feeling weak
 Fainting (especially standing)
 Frequent urinary tract infections (eg., cystitis)
 Kidney damage
Drinking excessive amounts of water will not reduce the dehydration, and may
make it worse. This is due to the fact that the essential salts are needed to
allow the body to absorb the fluid. When you stop vomiting there will probably
be a temporary weight gain due to rehydration. This can show itself in puffy
fingers, but also slight swelling in ankles and feet. This can cause much
alarm, but in fact is only medical concern if the swelling extends above the
knee. At this point it is important to seek medical advice. Otherwise, rest and
raise the feet whenever possible and it will resolve in a few days. Diuretics are
not necessary, except in severe cases, when your doctor may prescribe them
for a short time. Avoid self-medicating with diuretics.
(NB. Both dehydration and electrolyte imbalances are more likely and
more dangerous in laxative and/or diuretic abuse.)
Problems with teeth
Vomiting for more than a few months is likely to cause dental problems. The
important thing to note is that, unlike ordinary dental decay, the damage is
likely to affect all your teeth, and can require very expensive dental treatment.
In order to limit the problems it is important to avoid brushing your teeth for at
least an hour after vomiting. The main dental problems seen in chronic
vomiting are:
 Erosion of tooth enamel
 Frequent cavities
 Sensitive to hot and cold food and drinks
 An unsightly smile
Stomach problems
Chronic vomiting can cause problems throughout the whole of your gut:
 Swollen salivary glands (leads to a swollen “chipmunk” face).
 Sore tongue, mouth and throat, which can lead to a hoarse voice
 Inflamed/bleeding oesophagus (also known as the gullet)
 Distension of the stomach and oesophagus (ruptures can occur, which can
be fatal).
Problems with eyes
 Vomiting can cause eyes to become blood shot, which whilst harmless, is
unsightly.
Other problems
 It is possible for vomit to pass into the lungs; which may cause lung infections
and pneumonia.
Reference “Cognitive Behavioural therapy for eating disorders: a comprehensive treatment guide” (2007) Waller et al. Page
401/402 Appendix 2B