A Summary of the Cognitive, Emotional and Social Consequences of Bulimia

Cognitive Consequences

• Focus on food and eating
• Loss of interest in other activities
• Distorted beliefs about food, eating, body shape and size

- Denial
- Minimisation
- Blaming             
- Diversion
- Intellectualisation
- Dichotomous thinking
- Personalization
- Overgeneralisation
- Magical thinking

• Passing on unrealistic/distorted attitudes and beliefs about food to children
• Poor concentration
• Memory problems
• Difficulty in comprehending
• Difficulty making decisions

Emotional Consequences

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Shame
• Guilt
• Embarrassment
• Hopelessness
• Fear of being discovered
• Disgust
• Low Self-esteem
• Feeling out of control

Social Consequences

• Isolation 
• Secrecy
• Interpersonal mistrust
• Decreased sexual interest

Financial Consequences

• Spending large amounts of money or buying binge foods and laxatives

Legal Consequences

• Getting caught shoplifting food, laxatives or other things

References
Bulik, C., Sullivan, P., Carter, F., Joyce, P., & McIntosh, V. (1993). Cognitive Therapy Therapist Manual for the treatment of Bulimia Nervosa. University of Canterbury, New Zealand.