 Think you or a loved one may have bulimia? Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that not only causes short-term problems to an individual’s health and quality of life but can also have severe (even life-threatening) effects on a person’s long-term health. Show What is Bulimia?Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of bingeing (eating a large amount of food in a short period of time) followed by purging (self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or diuretics, exercising, fasting, etc.) [1]. Though the physical consequences of bulimia may not be as visibly obvious as in other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (.g. extreme weight loss), bulimia is just as serious of an eating disorder. Not only does bulimia put an extreme burden on a person’s emotional and mental health (it is a mental health disorder, after all), it can also lead to severe short-term and long-term health problems. Short Term ConsequencesSome of the short term consequences of bulimia include the following:
If treated in a timely manner, many of the short-term consequences of bulimia will diminish or completely disappear once the individual gets medical help and recovers from bulimia. However, since bulimics don’t typically conform to the traditional “eating disorder image” (severely underweight) and because they often hide their binge-purge behaviors from others, their friends, family, doctors, and even the individual themself may fail to realize they have a serious eating disorder until the condition has progressed to a dangerous level. Unfortunately, if bulimia is left untreated for too long, the short-term consequences listed above can lead to serious, long-term health problems that may not easily clear up or go away once the person stops bingeing and purging. Long Term ConsequencesAs bulimia progresses, the effects of bingeing and purging start to cause more severe and permanent damage to the body. For example, when the body isn’t getting enough calories from food, it starts consuming muscle. If this goes on long enough, the heart (the body’s most important muscle) will begin to weaken, which can eventually lead to coronary heart disease and even death [2]. Another long-term effect of bulimia is esophageal issues. Purge vomiting can cause the esophagus to tear and become weak, which can then lead to a host of problems, including chronic acid reflux. Thanks to the stomach acids involved in acid reflux, the mucous membranes of the esophagus may eventually begin to erode, causing a condition known as Barrett’s esophagus. This can then lead to the development of esophageal cancer. Some of the other long-term consequences of bulimia include:
Bone Damage
Heart Issues
Gastrointestinal Problems
Throat Damage
Other long-term consequences of bulimia include damage to the kidneys, increased risk of kidney stones and kidney failure, diabetes, high cholesterol, hormonal imbalances, fertility problems, chronic dehydration, chronic fatigue, and electrolyte imbalances. Treating the Long Term & Short Term Consequences of BulimiaFortunately, many of the short-term consequences of bulimia can be treated and reversed once appropriate medical care is received and bulimia behaviors cease. However, if left untreated, bulimia can lead to a host of serious health problems that may persist for years to come. If you think you or a loved one may have bulimia, take the first step today and seek immediate medical help. Start by talking to your doctor about bulimia or call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline at 1-800-931-2237 to find out more about treatment options in your area. References: [1] National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (UK). Eating Disorders: Core Interventions in the Treatment and Management of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders. Leicester (UK): British Psychological Society (UK); 2004. (NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 9.) 2, Eating disorders. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK49318/[2] ibid. About the Author: Her work has been featured on numerous eating disorder blogs and websites. When she’s not writing, Sarah is off traveling the world with her husband. The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective on eating disorders. These are not necessarily the views of Eating Disorder Hope, but an effort to offer a discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals. We at Eating Disorder Hope understand that eating disorders result from a combination of environmental and genetic factors. If you or a loved one are suffering from an eating disorder, please know that there is hope for you, and seek immediate professional help. Published February 19, 2021, on EatingDisorderHope.com
Bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition. People who have bulimia go through periods where they eat a lot of food in a very short amount of time (binge eating) and then make themselves sick, use laxatives (medicine to help them poo) or do excessive exercise, or a combination of these, to try to stop themselves gaining weight. Anyone can get bulimia, but it is more common in young people aged 13 to 17. Symptoms of bulimia include: These symptoms may not be easy to spot in someone else because bulimia can make people behave very secretively. Read more about the symptoms of bulimia and warning signs in others Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from bulimia. If you think you may have bulimia, see a GP as soon as you can. They'll ask you questions about your eating habits and how you're feeling, and will check your overall health and weight. If they think you may have bulimia or another eating disorder, they should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists. It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment. You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from the eating disorders charity Beat by calling their adult helpline on 0808 801 0677 or youth helpline on 0808 801 0711. Getting help for someone elseIf you're concerned that someone close to you may have bulimia, let them know you're worried about them and encourage them to see a GP. You could offer to go along with them. Read more about talking to your child about eating disorders and supporting someone with an eating disorder. You can recover from bulimia, but it may take time and recovery will be different for everyone. Your treatment plan will be tailored to you and should take into account any other support you might need, such as for depression or anxiety. If you're over 18, you'll probably be offered a guided self-help programme. This involves working through a self-help book, and often includes keeping a diary and making a plan for your meals. You'll be supported by a therapist during this process. You may also be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). If you're under 18, you may be offered family therapy as well as CBT. Read more about treatments for bulimia Bulimia can eventually lead to physical problems associated with not getting the right nutrients, vomiting a lot, or overusing laxatives. Possible complications include:
We do not know exactly what causes bulimia and other eating disorders. You may be more likely to get an eating disorder if:
Binge-purge cycleBulimia is often a vicious cycle of binging and purging, triggered by things such as hunger, sadness or stress. You may set very strict rules for yourself about dieting, eating or exercising. Failing to keep to these then leads to periods of excessive eating and loss of control (binge eating), after which you feel guilty or ashamed. You then purge to get rid of the calories, leaving you feeling hungry again, and the cycle continues.
This video explores how to spot the symptoms of bulimia nervosa, and how it can impact someone's life.
Page last reviewed: 10 November 2020 |
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