Chewing and Spitting Out Food as a Clinical Feature of Bulimia

Patients with bulimia may engage in a variety of behaviors designed to prevent calorie absorption or to promote weight loss, including self-induced vomiting, laxative abuse, diuretic abuse, and prolonged fasting. Another eating-related behavior that is prevalent in this population but practiced intermittently or at a low frequency is chewing and spitting out food without swallowing it. The authors present detailed information on a series of 25 patients who practice this behavior.