Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Bulimia?SymptomsDiagnosesCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Bulimia?
Symptoms
Diagnoses
Causes
Treatment
Coping
Like othereating disorders, people who have bulimia are often secretive about the condition due to feelings of shame or guilt about their behaviors. They may go to great lengths to hide their symptoms, which may result in family and friends missing the signs that there is a problem.
The signs and symptoms of bulimia can be physical, behavioral, and emotional.
Physical Symptoms
Dentists are often the first to notice signs of self-induced vomiting in patients with bulimia nervosa because of the tell-tale pattern of dental erosion primarily on the internal surface of the teeth. Butoral health concernsaren’t the only physical symptom linked to bulimia. People may also experience:
Puffy cheeks among people whose purging include vomiting are one of the other noticeable physical signs. Calluses on the hand from inserting it in the mouth to cause vomiting may also be visible and are known as Russell’s sign. Later in the illness, this sign may not even be visible as the person may be able to vomit without mechanical stimulation.
Behavioral Symptoms
Emotional Symptoms
Understanding Bingeing and Purging
Most of the symptoms and signs associated with bulimia nervosa are reversible with treatment. If you don’t have a doctor who specializes in mental health, feel free to start with speaking with your primary care physician.
If you or someone you know is showing signs of bulimia nervosa, please seek out or encourage your loved one to seek out professional help. Simply having a conversation about your behaviors toward food, eating, stress, and more can give your doctor valuable insight to help you.
Bulimia vs. Other Eating Disorders
Sometimes, people withanorexia nervosawill also use binging or purging behaviors. However, the distinction between bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa is that people struggling with anorexia nervosa have significantly low body weight. Additionally, people who binge but do not purge may meet the criteria forbinge eating disorder.
Bulimia Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Sign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
How Bulimia Is Diagnosed
The exact causes of bulimia are not known, but there are a number of factors that may play a role:
It is also not uncommon for people with bulimia to haveco-occurring mental health conditionsincluding depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and substance use disorders.
The Different Causes of Eating Disorders
Treatment for bulimiafocuses on changing binging-purging behaviors and replacing distorted thought patterns. A treatment plan will often involve psychotherapy, medications, and nutritional education. Because treatment addresses many different life areas, it often involves a treatment team that may include doctors, mental health professionals, and dietitians.
Psychotherapy
Three forms of psychotherapy that are often helpful in the treatment of bulimia include:
Medications
Treatment for bulimia may also include the use of antidepressant medications including:
Medications Used to Treat Eating Disorders
Getting appropriate treatment is essential, but there are also things you can do to take care of yourself during your recovery.
If you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact theNational Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helplinefor support at1-800-931-2237.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
If you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact theNational Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) Helplinefor support at1-800-931-2237.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
Self-Help for Treating Your Eating Disorder
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mehler PS, Rylander M.Bulimia Nervosa - medical complications.J Eat Disord. 2015;3:12. doi:10.1186/s40337-015-0044-4National Eating Disorders Association.Bulimia Nervosa.Levinson CA, Zerwas S, Calebs B, et al.The core symptoms of bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and depression: A network analysis.J Abnorm Psychol.2017;126(3):340-354. doi:10.1037/abn0000254American Psychiatric Association.What Are Eating Disorders?.Cleveland Clinic.Bulimia nervosa: diagnosis and tests.NEDA.Bulimia nervosa.Cleveland Clinic.Bulimia nervosa: management and treatment.
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.
Levinson CA, Zerwas S, Calebs B, et al.The core symptoms of bulimia nervosa, anxiety, and depression: A network analysis.J Abnorm Psychol.2017;126(3):340-354. doi:10.1037/abn0000254
American Psychiatric Association.What Are Eating Disorders?.
Cleveland Clinic.Bulimia nervosa: diagnosis and tests.
NEDA.Bulimia nervosa.
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.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
