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What are some of the signs that someone has bulimia?

It can sometimes be very difficult to work out whether someone has bulimia. It is common for a person with bulimia to try and hide their condition from others. Some of the warning signs that a person has bulimia include signs of frequent vomiting, not eating food around others, hoarding food, frequent use of the toilet during meals or after eating, obsession with food and body shape and low self-esteem.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder and a serious mental illness. People who have the condition often binge eat, meaning that they eat far more food than is normal in a short time. People with bulimia often feel like they have no control over how much food they eat and try to …

What is an eating disorder?

An eating disorder is a mental illness in which a person has obsessive thoughts about food and their body weight. There is a wide range of eating disorders. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, which is when a person restricts the amount of food …

How is bulimia different from anorexia?

Bulimia and anorexia are both eating disorders. People with anorexia restrict how much food they eat, while people with bulimia often eat far more food than is normal in a short time and try to compensate for this by making themselves vomit, using …

What is the difference between bulimia and binge eating disorder?

Bulimia and binge eating disorder are similar in that they both involve binge eating, which means eating far more food than is normal in a short amount of time. People with bulimia tend to compensate for this behavior by …

What causes an eating disorder?

It is not known exactly what causes eating disorders. They are thought to develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. People who have a close family member with an eating disorder, who have low self-esteem, depression or have experienced …

Can men get bulimia?

Men can and do suffer from eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia. In Australia about one in every four people with bulimia are male.

What is binge eating?

Binge eating is when a person eats far more food than is normal in a short amount of time. Binge eating is associated with an eating disorder called bulimia, where people regularly binge eat and then purge the food by vomiting or using laxative or compensate by going …

What are the treatments for bulimia?

The treatment for bulimia may include psychotherapy, which involves meeting regularly with a therapist to learn healthy ways of thinking about food and how to think more positively about weight and body image. Some people may also be prescribed …

Can people recover from bulimia?

Yes, it is possible for someone to recover from bulimia. Although recovery can be very challenging, a team of doctors, therapists and other healthcare professionals can help people with the condition recover and return to a healthy lifestyle.

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About this article

Author: Dr Joanne Van der Velden PhD, BSc (Hons)
First answered: 14 Oct 2014
Last reviewed: 14 May 2019
Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Votes: 1194 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Anorexia nervosa