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Conditions

Bulimia

Eroded teeth

Bulimia can affect both men and women but statistically women are more likely to develop Bulimia than men. The condition results in sufferers binging on food, and then purging it from their bodies by being sick or using laxatives. This is usually carried out in private, as the sufferers will frequently feel guilty about their binge eating. Symptoms of the condition can include obsessive behaviour, over eating, scarred knuckles, depression and damage to the tooth enamel (from stomach acid). The causes of bulimia are difficult to pin down, and vary from sufferer to sufferer. Low self-esteem is one contributory factor, as is depression, stress mental health disorders. There is also some evidence of a genetic link. Treatment is long and complicated, normally beginning with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, but also potentially anti-depressants. Going to your GP early allows for the full range of treatments to be explored.

If you are worried that your child may be suffering from an eating disorder, then read our special guide for parents on the Embarrassing Bodies: Kids website.

What the Men in White Coats Say

Comments and Questions

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I have been bulimic for 7 years now and I am only 20. I can purge up to 6-8 times a day and take around 15 laxative tablets a night. There is no cure for this and you I will die a bulimic - but other people can be helped. I used to looknat these sorts of things when I was experimenting and at the stage where I could have stopped so if this applies to anyone in here, stop now please - for us who can't - be healthy, happy and who you are x





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I have suffered with eating problems since I was 12 i am now 22 and still suffering. At my worst i would purge 10times a day, even bein sick after eating an apple. Sometimes i really dont want to be sick but i just cant help it. If i go out for a nice meal i really dont want to be sick as it feels like a waste but i get such a bad pain in my belly, i be sick.. then feel fine. i hate this and want it to stop! My teeth have roten and my chances of having a baby unlikely. If i could go back to that first time i forced myself to be sick i would never have started!





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!!!!! HELP MY BULIMIA IS OUT OF CONTROL I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I NEED ONE YOU DR'S CHRISTIAN TO CONTACT ME ASAP if it not sorted soon I'm already feeling some side effects my immune system low I'm catching everything and anything and toilet and kidney pains i can't keep going on like this





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hi there, i am 17 years old now. around the age of 13 i started being orthorexic with lots of ocd symptoms. i had a lack of menstruation for 6 moths and i seen a doc who gave me hormoned-based drugs. from 99lbs i have now 132 lbs and extremely big breast which i hate. over the last 3 years i have been constantly binging and fasting, so my body looks now puffy and with lots of cellulite. i've seen a nutritionist and a psychotherapist but things haven't improved by now... i'm scared i will never get over these issues and it's hard to cope with them as the ones around me don't understand what's happening with me...





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How can my sister gain self control to stop her being bulimic?





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she should see a nutritionist and a psychotherapist and your family should support her. it's a long journey, it might takes years. all she needs is to be determined and patient. i haven't recover yet, but i am hoping for things to improve by time. i wish you all the best.

I couldn't find anywhere else to put this under eating disorders, and i hope one of you will be able to help me. Over the past year I have found myself eating less and less. I used to have depression and very bad anger problems, but they have settled now and i am an all round, contantly happy person with a clear mind (I don't actually think i think very much now, lol). I am a much more happy person and always bubbly. Since i have been eating less, my teachers have noticed and have called me up on annarexia. I dont think i have this because I still eat until I am full - so full i feel sick at times, but ive never been sick. I eat 3 meals a day and sometimes snack. I have phases where I eat loads and loads and am constantly hungry and snack a lot, and then (like now) i am barely hungry (I couldnt even manage two peaces of toast this morning, and yesterday a banana smoothie and a small sasuage roll filled me up for around 12 hours!)and dont snack at all. I don't know why this is, my parents have noticed my lack of eating recently as the meal sizes i used to eat and request for more, i can't even make half way through without feeling extremely full. What's wrong with me? I am 14, 5'5/6 and weigh around 9stone 8lbs (which sometimes drops to lower 9stone and highers to almost 10 stone) I, personally, think my weight is a little heavy but my BMI says i am healthy and ive never really done much about it and never stick to diets. I don't do very much exersise, just walking to and from places. I've not done any exercise without it being necessary (i.e walking to and from places etc) for around 2 months and when i joined zumba a few weeks back, i gave up on it because i got shattered very easily (hour long sessions and i was shattered after the warm up :/). I have been diognosed with Autosomal dominant PKD(Poly cystic kidney disease) and have been checked for poly-cystic overies with no cysts found. what's wrong with me? Thank you.





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hei, i've been the same as you for as long as an year... like 3 years ago. and as a main outcome of my behaviour i was in lack of menstruation for about 6 months. so i went to the doc and she gave me some hormone drugs and multivitamins and i have put on 32 lbs (i had 99lbs and now i have 132 lbs). and the idea is that over the last 3 years i have constantly been on a diet (with periods of weeks or months when i ate until i was sick, and then with weeks when i barely ate something), and my body is now puffy and with lots of cellulite. and btw, my breast has became enourmous and i just hate it. from my own experience, i could tell you to try eating 5 meals a day(3 main meals and 2 snacks) but beware, eat healthily!! and eat foods that bring you vitamins and nutrients. and even if you feel full after 2 bites, try to eat everything that's on your plate. and try eating at regular hours.as long as you eat healthily, you are not going to put on weight and you and your relatives will be satisfied with the amount of food you eat. and one of the most important thing to remember: don't take drugs based on hormones. they will turn you upside down.

Hi I'm 14 I think i might have bulimia but im not sure. Because everytime i eat i end up being sick so its just easier for me to eat the bare minumum so i dont end up being sick. But this has caused me to become underweight for my age and height. Im scared to ask my mum for advice as shell only say im over reacting and such a drama queen. But im genually scared i spoke 2 one of my closest friends and she says its down to stress and due to me having depression but i dont know what to do.. can some one give me advice please ?





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the thing is that im not worried about things like whens my next homework due or what am i going to eat or do for the day im worried about how to skip my next meal ?

Hi I'm 14 I think i might have bulimia but im not sure. Because everytime i eat i end up being sick so its just easier for me to eat the bare minumum so i dont end up being sick. But this has caused me to become underweight for my age and height. Im scared to ask my mum for advice as shell only say im over reacting and such a drama queen. But im genually scared i spoke 2 one of my closest friends and she says its down to stress and due to me having depression but i dont know what to do.. can some one give me advice please ?





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Hi there, i have been a sufferer for about 8 years and after a hell of a battle, have finally overcome it. Now i worry i wont be able to have children and am really worried. As my condition never got too out of hand, i have never missed a period and i always have ovulating pains. Is this a good sign things are not too damaged??





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how have you overcome it? did you seek any help?

well i told everyone i was close to, and my boyfriend who i live with. they helped me get over it because i told them when i had the urge. plus when i had meals, i ate little and often, so it didnt hurt my stomach until the bloating feeling stopped... the best thing to do is tell someone who can help you. luckily i didnt need any other help...

im bulimic and i have told a close friend , but im scared for family to find out , i have recently started using slimmin tablets these are called i shot skinny are these dangrous ?





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your best bet would be to tell your family, they will give you the support you need to pull through. Find someone in your family you're closest to, this could be a sibling or parent. It will help, trust me.





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Bulimia nervosa (usually referred to just as bulimia) is an eating disorder. The condition was first recognised as an eating disorder in 1979. Read More »

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