At one time a young girl named Nina knew nothing about bulimia. Teen interests were the main thing on her mind. She was interested in boys, and she wanted boys to take an interest in her. Nina could see that her pudgy figure lacked the gentle curves possessed by her friends. Nina shared her observations with her mother. Nina’s mother told her daughter that she had clung to some extra “baby fat.” Still, Nina did not want to look like a “baby” in the eyes of the boys in her school. Nina suffered thorough a number of conventional diets while yet in high school. She lost weight, only to gain it back later. She could not curb her desire to eat. Nina was on the route towards bulimia. Teen girls have found a way to eat and still keep their weight under control. They eat to their heart’s content, then they either rid themselves quickly of the contents in their stomach, or they exercise in excess, hoping to work off any extra calories. Such girls have the condition known as bulimia. Teen girls do not divulge their secret to their family. They are reluctant to share their trick with any but the closest friends. Only chance occurrences and observant professionals force the disclosure of their secret. In the case of Nina, her purging practices caused acid to form on her teeth. That then damaged the teeth. The dentist noted that damage, and he questioned Nina. Eventually, Nina saw a counselor about her eating disorder. Sometimes a woman develops bulimia after going on a very rigid diet. Such a diet can disrupt the normal body biochemistry, including the biochemical reactions that contribute to feelings of hunger and satiety. Bulimic women tend to undergo great stress any time that they eat more than they feel they should. Such stressful feelings can trigger the behavior associated with bulimia. Teen girls want to rid themselves of the food they have begun to regret eating. Some girls vomit, in order to purge their system of food that was ingested in excess. Other girls begin a strenuous type of exercise. Bulimina nervosa is a serious health condition. It can cause dehydration and loss of the body’s normal electrolytic balance. That in turn can lower the level at which the body muscles perform. Even the heart muscle can be damaged by prolonged use of the behavior associated with bulimia. Since bulimia results from a biochemical imbalance, it can be treated with medication. Doctors often prescribe Prozac, an anti-depressant. That increases the level of serotonin in the nervous system. It can help a victim of bulimia deal with stress. Counseling can help a victim of bulimia resist the desire to gorge on food, only to regret it later. Counselors can help a teen or young adult to develop more healthful eating habits. Counselors can help a young girl to enjoy food, and to still remain at a respectable weight. Nina, the girl mentioned at the start of this article once received such counseling. Now she no longer hears other girls refer to her as “pudge,” a term that she heard repeatedly while yet in high school.