- Talk to you about your eating habits, weight-loss methods and physical symptoms.
- 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.
Can doctors tell if you have bulimia?
Your doctor will use a variety of tests to diagnose bulimia. First, they will
conduct a physical examination
. They may also order blood or urine tests. And a psychological evaluation will help determine your relationship with food and body image.
What are warning signs of bulimia?
- Episodes of binge eating.
- Self-induced vomiting.
- Smelling like vomit.
- Misuse of laxatives and diuretics.
- Complaining about body image.
- Expressing guilt or shame about eating.
- Depression.
- Irritability.
Can blood tests detect bulimia?
Although
there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose bulimia
, the doctor might use various diagnostic tests, including laboratory values (a blood test), to evaluate the severity of illness or the effects bulimia on the body’s organs.
What age does bulimia usually start?
On average, women develop bulimia at
18 or 19
. Teen girls between 15 and 19 and young women in their early 20s are most at risk. But eating disorders are happening more often in older women.
How can I tell if my daughter is purging?
- Preoccupation with food and weight.
- Distorted body image.
- Long periods of time spent in the bathroom—sometimes with the faucet running, to mask the sound of vomiting.
- Depression.
- Anxious about eating, especially dining out in public.
- Abuse of laxatives, enemas, emetics, diuretics.
What happens if bulimia is left untreated?
If left untreated, bulimia can result in long-term health problems such as
abnormal heart rhythms
, bleeding from the esophagus due to excessive reflux of stomach acid, dental problems, and kidney problems.
Does bulimia change your face?
Face swelling
is one of the Bulimia effects sufferers find most distressing: sometimes described as ‘Bulimia face,’ the swelling can make people feel their face ‘looks fat’. What is taking place is the body’s reaction to self-induced vomiting and the dehydration it causes.
What are five effects that bulimia nervosa may have on the body?
- 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 it feels like to be bulimic?
The person with bulimia doesn’t feel sick,
she feels desperate, driven
. Bingeing and purging temporarily removes stress, like a drug. All focus is on the cycle, from trying to avoid a binge, giving in to the urge, planning, and execution.
Do bulimics lose weight?
Not everyone with bulimia is ultra-thin. Anorexia causes a large calorie deficit, leading to extreme weight loss. People with bulimia can experience episodes of anorexia, but they still tend to consume more calories overall through bingeing and purging.
How long can you survive with bulimia?
Roughly 50% of women will recover from bulimia within ten years of their diagnosis
, but an estimated 30% of these women will experience a relapse of the disorder. These behaviors can wreak havoc on the body both in the short-term and the long-term.
Why do teens become bulimic?
A teenager who
has suffered emotional, physical, or sexual abuse
may increase their susceptibility to bulimia. The presence of other mental health disorders can also heighten the risk of bulimia, including alcoholism and substance abuse.
Should I confront my daughter about Bulimia?
Never make your
daughter feel guilty or that you are somehow punishing her. People with bulimia nervosa quite often go to great lengths to hide their disordered behaviors and can become defensive when pressed. For this reason, it’s best not to press the issue immediately.
Can a 12 year old have Bulimia?
Anorexia Nervosa and Compulsive Eating are the most common among young children, but
there are cases of Bulimia being reported
.
What is the best medication for bulimia?
The only antidepressant specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat bulimia is
fluoxetine (Prozac)
, a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which may help even if you’re not depressed.
