Eating disorders cannot be self-diagnosed. The only way to accurately determine if you or a loved one has developed an eating disorder is to complete a thorough assessment with a qualified healthcare provider at The Meadowglade.
It's also possible that you're predisposed to eating disorders, whether through genetics or existing mental illnesses like depression. Whatever the cause, it's not your fault, and you can gain control through early intervention. If you are worried that your eating habits are disordered, don't hesitate to seek help.
There aren't any laboratory tests to specifically diagnose bulimia. Your healthcare provider may order tests to see how bulimia has affected your health. These tests include: Blood test.
It's important to note that bulimia doesn't necessarily involve purging: physically eliminating the food from your body by throwing up or using laxatives, enemas, or diuretics. If you make up for your binges by fasting, exercising to excess, or going on crash diets, this also qualifies as bulimia.
To be classified as bulimia by a doctor, someone must binge eat and purge — or use other ways to prevent or control their weight — once a week for at least 3 months. Some people living with bulimia compensate for binge eating with excessive exercise or fasting, rather than purging.
Being preoccupied with your body shape and weight. Living in fear of gaining weight. Repeated episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food in one sitting. Feeling a loss of control during bingeing — like you can't stop eating or can't control what you eat.
Bulimia jaw is a term for a number of symptoms that can result from the purging aspect of bulimia nervosa (BN). It can refer to swelling, intense pain, and a misalignment of the jaw, and sometimes require surgery to correct. Further Reading. Bulimia Jaw: Pain and Swelling.
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging at a frequency of >2-3 times per week. Compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting and/or obsessive or compulsive exercise. Extreme concern with body weight and shape.
Binge Evidence
People with bulimia can eat between 5,000 and 15,000 calories in one sitting. (1) These bingeing episodes rarely happen at the family dinner table.
Repeated contact of the fingers with teeth during self-induced vomiting episodes can lead to characteristic abrasions, small lacerations, and calluses on the back of the hand overlying the knuckles; formally known as Russell's Sign.
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.
These are the most common symptoms of bulimia: Usually a normal or above average body weight. Recurrent episodes of binge eating and fear of not being able to stop eating. Self-induced vomiting (usually secretive)
The diagnostic criteria for bulimia in the DSM are: 1) recurrent episodes of binge eating with a sense of lack of control occurring at least twice per week for at least three months, 2) recurrent, inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as vomiting, in order to prevent weight gain 3) and self-evaluation that is ...
Erosion can drastically change the color, size and shape of your teeth. Excessive tooth erosion is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. Frequent vomiting can lead to sensitive teeth, dry mouth and red, cracked lips. All signs that your dentist is trained to recognize as side effects of bulimia.
One of the telltale signs of bulimia is the appearance of swollen cheeks – colloquially known as “chipmunk cheeks” – on the sides of the face. Caused by the enlargement of the parotid glands (one of the salivary glands), the medical term for this phenomenon is sialadenosis.
Drinking excess amounts of water
Americans are drinking a lot more water these days to stay hydrated. However, individuals with bulimia will typically drink large amounts of water for different reasons. First, water is an easy way to curb hunger pains and not intake calories while skipping meals.
Bulimia can permanently damage your stomach and intestines, causing other problems like constipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome. Hormonal problems. Reproductive issues, including irregular periods, missed periods, and fertility problems are common side effects when you have bulimia.
If an individual has swelling in their salivary glands it will disappear after a few weeks if the individual continues to not engage in self-induced vomiting. However, if the individual begins to self-induce vomiting again, the swelling will reappear if they stop engaging in self-induced vomiting.
Recovering from bulimia nervosa has no set time frame, and it is rarely a linear process. Instead, your recovery should be viewed as an ongoing cycle where you may pass through certain stages multiple times or revisit certain stages for different bulimia nervosa symptoms.
Walsh said, "we have people who are obese and binge but don't vomit," so they don't fit into the strict definition of bulimia nervosa, which requires both binging and purging. Or they might binge and vomit once a week, but to qualify as bulimic they would have to vomit at least twice a week.
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
Vomiting leads to low blood potassium levels which can cause fatigue, weakness and abnormal heart beats or heart arrest. This complication is unpredictable and occurs without warning, even in people who have previously vomited without developing problems.