What Is Bulimia?
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of bulimia can be physical, behavioral, and emotional.
Butoral health concernsaren’t the only physical symptom linked to bulimia.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
These emotional issues are not unique to bulimia nervosa but may raise concerns.
Diagnoses
Most of the symptoms and signs associated with bulimia nervosa are reversible with treatment.
Diagnosis can be complicated by the fact that many people with eating disorders hide their behaviors.
It is important for anyone experiencing associated symptoms to be assessed by a physician.
and the behavior must not be sparked by anorexia.
Bulimia vs. Other Eating Disorders
Sometimes, people withanorexia nervosawill also use binging or purging behaviors.
Additionally, people who binge but do not purge may meet the criteria forbinge eating disorder.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Treatment
Treatment for bulimiafocuses on changing binging-purging behaviors and replacing distorted thought patterns.
A treatment plan will often involve psychotherapy, medications, and nutritional education.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Mehler PS, Rylander M.Bulimia Nervosa - medical complications.J Eat Disord.
2015;3:12. doi:10.1186/s40337-015-0044-4
National Eating Disorders Association.Bulimia Nervosa.
Cleveland Clinic.Bulimia nervosa: diagnosis and tests.
Cleveland Clinic.Bulimia nervosa: management and treatment.
Mehler S, Andersen A.Eating Disorders: A Guide to Medical Care and Complications.
Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press; 2010.
