Bulimia
Diagnosing bulimia
Source: NHS
In this topic (9)
If you have an eating disorder such as bulimia, the first step is to recognise that you have a problem and visit your GP.You may think it is not serious, but bulimia can damage your long-term health.
Accepting that you need help and support is the first step to recovery, but this may be a very difficult step for you to take. Most people who have bulimia hide their situation for months or years before seeking help. It can often take a change of situation, such as the start of a new relationship or living with new people, to make a person with bulimia want to seek help.
It may help to make a list of questions you want to ask before you see your GP.Once you have explained your situation to your GP, they will decide whether to refer you to a specialist mental health team.
Your local team will include:
- specialist counsellors
- psychiatrists
- psychologists
- nurses
- dietitians
- other healthcare professionals
Your treatment depends on how serious your condition is and the best way to manage it. Your GP may recommend a self-help programme to start your recovery before referring you for specialist treatment.
You can make a full recovery from bulimia. The earlier you start treatment, the quicker the recovery process will be.
Do I have an eating disorder?
Doctors sometimes use a questionnaire called the SCOFF questionnaire to help recognise people who may have an Eating disorders . This involves answering the following five questions:
- Scoff : Do you ever make yourselfvomit because you feel uncomfortably full?
- Control : Do you worry you have lost control over how much you eat?
- One stone : Have you recently lost more than one stone (six kilograms) in a three-month period?
- Fat : Do you believe yourself to be fat when others say you are too thin?
- Food : Would you say that food dominates your life?
If you answer yes to two or more of these questions, you may have an eating disorder.
Articles for Bulimia
Causes of bulimia
There is no simple answer to the question of what causes bulimia. Although the condition is linked to a fear of getting fat, more complex emotions usually contribute.
Complications of bulimia
There are a number of physical complications associated with bulimia, including dental problems, irregular periods and bad skin.
Diagnosing bulimia
If you have an eating disorder such as bulimia, the first step is to recognise that you have a problem and visit your GP.
Introduction
Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder and mental health condition where someone is binge eating, then making themselves vomit or using laxatives to purge the food from their body.
Patient story: "Bulimia isn't a women’s disease; it’s a people's disease"
Steve Blacknell, 55, used tosneak intothe kitchen in the middle of the night to eat in secret. He has been a recovering bulimic for 20 years.
Patient story: "I knew it had to stop because I was living a dual life."
Liselle Terret, 38,had bulimia between the age of 14and 23.I was struggling a bit at school and I wasnt very happy at home. It was classic 'middle-child
Patient story: "I went into hospital with a ruptured bile duct from vomiting so much."
Mary Black, 48, who runs a small business in the Midlands, battled with bulimia for several years but eventually found the road to recovery."I think my bulimia
Symptoms of bulimia
The main symptoms of bulimia are binge eating and purging (ridding your body of food by making yourself vomit or taking laxatives).
Treating bulimia
You can recover from bulimia, but it may be a long and difficult process. The first step towards getting better is recognising the problem and seeking help.
