Bulimia’s Effects on the Face & Cheeks 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health disorder that manifests as cycles of binge eating and purging. The condition can have a number of harmful effects on mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

There are many ways people struggling with BN purge their food, including fasting, excessive exercise, misuse of laxatives, and self-induced vomiting. While all of these methods are detrimental, self-induced vomiting generally has the most impact on the face, cheeks, and oral health.

What is ‘Bulimia Face’?

“Bulimia face” (sometimes called “bulimia cheeks” or “chipmunk cheeks”) is not a medical term, but the phrase is sometimes used to describe the effects self-induced vomiting can have on the face.

The human body has two glands in front of the ears called parotid glands. Sometimes called the salivary glands, they produce saliva, which aids in chewing and digestion. When a person with bulimia purges via self-induced vomiting, these glands can become agitated and sometimes swollen, leading to a puffy appearance in the cheeks or face.³

This swelling is called sialadenosis, and while it is not exclusively caused by bulimia nervosa, the eating disorder is the most common cause of swollen salivary glands in developed western nations.² Sialadenosis is generally not considered dangerous, but the swelling can sometimes cause pain and significantly affect a person’s facial aesthetic.

Does ‘Bulimia Face’ Represent a Health Concern?

If a person is experiencing swelling as a result of purging, it has the potential to impact their quality of life and potentially cause discomfort. Though, swollen salivary glands are generally more uncomfortable than actually dangerous, especially compared to other potential effects of bulimia nervosa.

Sometimes, this swelling can cause pain, and some people who struggle with BN for a long time may experience particularly severe swelling.³ In these cases, patients may want to seek out medical help specifically for the pain and related issues.

Overall, though, the biggest concern with “bulimia face” is usually the aesthetic changes it causes. The swelling is one of the most purely physical symptoms of bulimia nervosa, and it can cause a face to look much puffier or rounder than normal. For someone already struggling with body image and self-esteem issues, seeing their face looking “puffy” or bigger than normal can be detrimental for mental health.

Can You Reverse Swelling Caused by Bulimia?

It is possible to treat swollen parotid glands, but a person will usually need to see a doctor to do so.

A common treatment for the ailment is a medication called pilocarpine.³ The drug works to increase the amount of saliva the body produces, which can help combat sialadenosis in patients with bulimia nervosa.^3,4

However, treating swollen salivary glands won’t amount to much if purging behavior continues. That’s why it’s important to treat the root causes of the bulimia nervosa itself.

Many people with BN also struggle with related issues such as anxiety and depression. Without addressing these issues through targeted mental health treatment, it’s likely that purging will continue, which could cause continued bulimia face swelling as well as a number of other medical complications.

Bulimia Treatment Options

Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa are complex conditions, caused by interlocking psychiatric, biological, and environmental factors. Treating these conditions is often equally complex, calling for comprehensive care that addresses each of these factors.

Some of the most common treatments for bulimia nervosa include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Generally considered the first-line approach to treating BN, this form of psychotherapy involves learning how to recognize and change unhelpful patterns in thinking and behavior. The goal is helping patients identify and learn to control negative thoughts and teaching them new, healthier coping mechanisms.
• Nutritional counseling: In this kind of treatment, a person works with an expert to develop a healthy diet and resist binging and purging behaviors. The nutritional therapist ensures their nutritional needs are met through a healthy, balanced diet, which may also help a patient improve their relationship with their own body or develop a better understanding of their physical needs.
• Medications: While no medications are currently approved to treat bulimia nervosa directly, some drugs may help patients combat contributing mental health issues, such as depression.¹ Medication is generally not considered a first-line approach to eating disorder treatment and is usually used in tandem with psychiatric care.

Addressing these underlying causes of bulimia nervosa is the best and most long-lasting way to combat the swollen cheeks that lead to bulimia face.

If you or a loved one are struggling with bulimia nervosa or other issues related to eating, food, body image, or mental health, it’s important to find appropriate care. It may feel scary to admit that something’s wrong, but treating bulimia nervosa is entirely possible, and it’s never too late to seek out help.