Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that involves both bingeing and purging.

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The bingeing and purging cycle isnt even an effective way to lose weight.

Indeed, many people with bulimia actually gain weight over time.

What Is Bulimia? Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Your body starts absorbing calories from the moment you put food in your mouth.

Laxatives get rid of 10 percent of the calories you eat.

Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia

Signs and symptoms of bulimia can vary from person to person.

Dr. Allison Young

Per Mayo Clinic and HelpGuide, those include:

How Is Bulimia Diagnosed?

This eating disorder can have dangerous effects on your body if its not treated.

A good first step is to consult your primary care physician.

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They can refer you to a more specialized doctor.

Medication Options

Antidepressant medications can be used along with therapy.

Complications of Bulimia

Bulimia can have dangerous effects on your body.

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In certain cases, the eating disorder can even lead to death.

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Research and Statistics: Who Has Bulimia?

Anyone can suffer from bulimia.

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And while it may be underdiagnosed in men, it does tend to affect women more often.

Up to 2 percent of women have this eating disorder, per HHS.

Girls and younger women are more likely to have bulimia than older women.

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Women usually develop bulimia around age 18 or 19.

Still, researchers are finding that eating disorders are beginning to affect more older members of the population.

According to a study cited by HHS, 13 percent of women over age 50 had somedisordered eatingpattern.

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She previously taught and mentored medical trainees at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Young graduated magna cum laude fromGeorgetown University with a bachelor of science degree in neurobiology and theology.

During her psychiatry training, Young sought additional training in womens mental health and cognitive behavioral therapy.

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Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being.

She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.

Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News.

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She is a Telly award winner and Freddie award finalist.

Eating Disorders

Diabulimia

Disordered Eating or Eating Disorder?

What Is Binge Eating Disorder?

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Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

What Are Eating Disorders?

Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Eating Disorders Awareness Week Begins February 27

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