Do a physical exam. Request blood and urine tests. Request a test that can identify problems with your heart (electrocardiogram) Perform a psychological evaluation, including a discussion of your attitude toward your body and weight.
What is 5 symptoms of bulimia nervosa?
- Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight.
- Living in fear of gaining weight.
- Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting.
- Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can’t stop eating or can’t control what you eat.
What are 3 side effects of bulimia?
- anemia.
- low blood pressure and irregular heart rate.
- dry skin.
- ulcers.
- decreased electrolyte levels and dehydration.
- esophageal ruptures from excessive vomiting.
- gastrointestinal problems.
- irregular periods.
What does the DSM 5 say about bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa is a DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.) diagnosis assigned to individuals who recurrently overeat and use inappropriate measures to prevent weight gain afterwards, such as purging, fasting or exercising excessively.
What are the two types of bulimia?
Specifically, there are two types of bulimia: Purging Type – When the binge episode is followed by self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives or diuretics. This is the most common form of bulimia. Non-Purging Type – When the binge episode is followed by excessive exercise or fasting.
Is bulimia a mental disease?
Bulimia nervosa (commonly known as bulimia) is an eating disorder and serious mental health problem. Someone with bulimia might feel parts of their lives are out of control and use purging to give them a sense of control. Bulimia is a serious condition that can cause long-term damage, but help is available.
Does bulimia ever go away?
Many people successfully recover from bulimia and go on to live full and healthy lives.
What does bulimia do to your brain?
By studying the brain scans of women with and without bulimia, researchers have discovered that their brains react differently to food cues. They found that, in women with bulimia, there is less blood flow in a part of the brain that is linked to self-thinking.
What is bulimia face?
When a person has been engaging in self-induced vomiting regularly and they suddenly stop engaging in the behaviour, their salivary glands in front of their ears (cheeks) may begin to swell. This makes their cheeks look swollen.
What permanent damage does bulimia cause?
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.
What is considered severe bulimia?
Symptoms of Severe Bulimia Nervosa (BN) Severe bulimia nervosa (BN) is defined as 8–13 binge/purge episodes per week), and extreme bulimia nervosa involves 14 or more binge/purge episodes per week. Unhealthy preoccupation with weight loss, body weight and shape; significant body image distortions.
What is required to be diagnosed with bulimia nervosa?
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating, as characterized by both: Eating, within any 2-hour period, an amount of food that is definitively larger than what most individuals would eat in a similar period of time under similar circumstances. A feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating.
When does bulimia typically begin?
The typical age of onset for bulimia nervosa is late adolescence or early adulthood, but onset can and does occur at any time throughout the lifespan. Bulimia nervosa typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood although it can strike at any age.
What are some health consequences of bulimia?
Bulimia can permanently damage your stomach and intestines, causing other problems like constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hormonal problems. Reproductive issues, including irregular periods, missed periods, and fertility problems are common side effects when you have bulimia.
Is it bulimia if I don’t throw up?
It’s important to note that bulimia doesn’t necessarily involve purging: physically eliminating the food from your body by throwing up or using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics. If you make up for your binges by fasting, exercising to excess, or going on crash diets, this also qualifies as bulimia.
How can you help someone with bulimia?
- Remind them that you believe in them and their ability to recover.
- Spend time together and give the person the opportunity to talk.
- Organise activities that give them a chance to enjoy themselves.
Can bulimia cause bipolar?
The Bipolar and Eating Disorder Connection According to the Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration, studies show that from 30 to 50% of those with bipolar will also develop a substance use disorder. Anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorder can also co-occur with bipolar disorder.
How is bulimia genetic?
Familial and twin studies have supported a genetic predisposition to eating disorders, with significant linkage on chromosome 10p in Families with Bulimia Nervosa. A 1998 study estimated the heritability of Bulimia to be up to 60 percent, with the remaining variance attributable to the individual-specific environment.
What are two long term effects of bulimia?
Long term effects of bulimia include: Sever dehydration. Tooth decay & cavities. Irregular periods.
What is the most effective treatment for bulimia?
The most effective treatment methodologies for bulimia nervosa include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and holistic therapies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the most evidence-based treatment approach for all mental illnesses.
Is bulimia an addiction?
Bulimia nervosa (BN) and drug addiction share common features, and BN is often treated as an addiction.
What are the emotional signs of bulimia?
- Depression, anxiety.
- Extreme fear of gaining weight.
- Low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance.
- Social withdrawal.
- A lack of self-control.
- Denial of binging, purging and other harmful behavior.
Can Dentists tell if you have bulimia?
Erosion can drastically change the color, size and shape of your teeth. Excessive tooth erosion is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. Frequent vomiting can lead to sensitive teeth, dry mouth and red, cracked lips. All signs that your dentist is trained to recognize as side effects of bulimia.
How do bulimics make themselves sick?
Symptoms of bulimia making yourself vomit, using laxatives, or doing an extreme amount of exercise after a binge to avoid putting on weight – this is called purging.
What is bulimia jaw?
Swelling of the jaw or face during bulimic behaviors is often caused by the dehydration that the body is experiencing. Our bodies naturally try to retain as much water as they can during periods of extreme dehydration.