you or a member of your family has a history of eating disorders, depression, or alcohol or drug addiction.

You may be more likely to get an eating disorder if: We do not know exactly what causes bulimia and other eating disorders.

bone problems – you may be more likely to develop problems such as osteoporosis, particularly if you have had symptoms of both bulimia and anorexia.

heart, kidney or bowel problems, including permanent constipation.

bad breath, a sore throat, or even tears in the lining of the throat – also caused by stomach acid.

dental problems – stomach acid from persistent vomiting can damage tooth enamel.

Read more about treatments for bulimia Health risks of bulimiaīulimia can eventually lead to physical problems associated with not getting the right nutrients, vomiting a lot, or overusing laxatives.

If you're under 18, you may be offered family therapy as well as CBT. You may also be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

You'll be supported by a therapist during this process. This involves working through a self-help book, and often includes keeping a diary and making a plan for your meals. If you're over 18, you'll probably be offered a guided self-help programme. 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. You can recover from bulimia, but it may take time and recovery will be different for everyone. Read more about talking to your child about eating disorders and supporting someone with an eating disorder. If 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 can also talk in confidence to an adviser from the eating disorders charity Beat by calling their adult helpline on 08 or youth helpline on 08. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment. It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. If they think you may have bulimia or another eating disorder, they should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists. They'll ask you questions about your eating habits and how you're feeling, and will check your overall health and weight. If you think you may have bulimia, see a GP as soon as you can. Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from bulimia. Read more about the symptoms of bulimia and warning signs in others Getting help for bulimia These symptoms may not be easy to spot in someone else because bulimia can make people behave very secretively. mood changes – for example, feeling very tense or anxious.being very critical about your weight and body shape.making yourself vomit, using laxatives, or doing an extreme amount of exercise after a binge to avoid putting on weight – this is called purging.eating very large amounts of food in a short time, often in an out-of-control way – this is called binge eating.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.Īnyone can get bulimia, but it is more common in young people aged 13 to 17. Bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition.

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