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Bulimia in men and boys

Bulimia Nervosa in Men & Boys

Though people tend to associate eating disorders exclusively with young, white, thin cisgender women, these conditions impact people of all ages, races, ethnicities, sizes, and gender identities, including cisgender men.

In fact, the number of men diagnosed with an eating disorder jumped up by 70% between 2008 and 2018.1 The actual number may be even higher, as subconscious bias, not knowing signs and symptoms, shame, denial, and other factors can lead to underreporting.

Eating disorder statistics

Eating Disorder Statistics & Trends 

Eating disorders are one of the most difficult illnesses to track for a number of reasons. Current statistics suggest a small percentage of the overall population experiences these conditions, yet it’s almost certain that many more people struggle with an eating disorder without ever being diagnosed.

Doctor's office

What is Bulimia Nervosa (BN)?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious eating disorder involving cycles of binge eating and purging.

Many factors can cause or contribute to bulimia nervosa, and the disorder impacts people of all ages, genders, and races. Thankfully, there are also a number of treatments for bulimia nervosa that have been found effective.

Food Addicts Anonymous

What Is Food Addicts Anonymous?

Food Addicts Anonymous is a support group designed for people who have addictions to food. This program emerged from the tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous, a highly successful 12-step program founded in 1935 that has helped countless people recover from alcoholism.

How effective is therapy?

How Effective is Eating Disorder Therapy?

Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and binge eating disorder (BED) are among the most complex mental health conditions. They generally arise from a combination of biological, environmental, and psychiatric factors and have deep impacts on physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Residential treatment

Residential Treatment for Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders

Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), binge eating disorder (BED), and others are serious mental health concerns that can impact physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Group Therapy

Group Therapy for Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders

Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN) are complex mental health conditions, and often, a number of different therapeutic techniques are used to help someone recover, including group therapy.

Intensive outpatient treatment for bulimia

Intensive Outpatient Treatment for Bulimia and Other Eating Disorders

All eating disorders are serious mental health conditions and should be taken seriously from a treatment perspective. However, how long someone has struggled and the symptoms they’ve developed may call for different levels of care.

Woman visiting doctor's office

Bulimia Side Effects: Long-Term and Short-Term

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health disorder that can lead to a number of physical, mental, and emotional consequences.

Support a loved one

How to Help a Friend or Loved One with Anorexia

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a serious condition impacting emotional, physical, and mental well-being. If you have a loved one with AN, it may feel scary or overwhelming to watch them struggle with the eating disorder.

Healthy body image

Guide to Cultivating a Healthy Body Image 

The term “body image” can refer to several different ideas, including how you think about your body, how you feel about your appearance, and how you perceive your body size and shape.1 These factors can greatly affect your mental and physical health and overall well-being.

Inpatient bulimia treatment

Inpatient Treatment for Bulimia: What to Expect 

When treating eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN), there are not only different types of therapies to help but also different levels of care. These levels represent the intensity of treatment, ranging from inpatient eating disorder treatment to outpatient programs.

Importance of family

The Importance of Family During Eating Disorder Recovery

Eating disorders and family may not seem to go together. However, the involvement of family and loved ones in someone’s eating disorder treatment and recovery can make a huge difference.

Eating disorder among people of color

Eating Disorders Among People of Color 

Over the years, certain stereotypes have developed around eating disorders, including the idea that they primarily affect white women and girls. Of course, this isn’t actually the case. Disordered eating behaviors and the negative self-image and poor self-esteem that often drive them impact people of all genders, races, and ages.

Dehydration

I Feel Dehydrated | Bulimia Symptoms of Concern

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition that can cause a number of physical, mental, and emotional complications. While some medical complications of bulimia nervosa are well-known, others, like dehydration, are less understood but can still be problematic.

Partial hospitalization programs

Partial Hospitalization Programs for Bulimia

A partial hospitalization program (PHP) is a type of treatment for bulimia nervosa (BN) and other eating disorders.

This level of care is essentially a middle-ground, falling between residential or inpatient treatment and a typical outpatient treatment program.

Bulimia's affect on teeth

How Anorexia Affects the Teeth 

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a dangerous eating disorder that can have a number of effects on physical health, including oral health. “Anorexia teeth” is a term for the damage the condition can do to the teeth, mouth, and soft palate due to poor nutrition and other potential complications.

Finding appropriate care for AN is paramount for recovering from the condition and addressing any impact it may have on oral health.

Medications

Using Prozac to Treat Bulimia: Research & Effectiveness 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a complex mental health condition that can impact mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Likewise, BN is often caused by a combination of psychological, biological, and environmental complications, which often require a comprehensive approach to treat appropriately.

Acceptance and commitment therapy

Utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Eating Disorders

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of psychotherapy commonly used to help people struggling with eating disorders of all kinds, including bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and anorexia nervosa (AN).1

Person looking into the distance

Can You Be Anorexic and Fat, or “Overweight?”

It is possible for someone who presents as what is considered in our society to be “normal” or “healthy” weight, “overweight,” fat, or in a larger body to still struggle with anorexia nervosa (AN). So, can you be anorexic and overweight? The short answer is yes. This is currently called atypical anorexia nervosa.

Anxiety and bulimia

The Relationship Between Bulimia & Anxiety 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a dangerous eating disorder marked by cycles of binge eating and “compensatory” purging behaviors. At its core, the disorder is a mental health condition, and it commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.

Eating disorder resources

Free & Low-Cost Resources for Eating Disorder Help 

Eating disorder treatment is often covered by health insurance, but for some, the cost of treatment for an eating disorder is just too high. Some patients may still get copayments or deductible bills and must pay monthly premiums to keep their plans intact. Others don’t have health insurance at all.

Emblem Coverage for Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are debilitating conditions which can affect someone’s physical, spiritual, and mental health. If you or a loved one are struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to seek out help, though the cost of treatment makes insurance coverage necessary for most people.

Woman feeling unhappy

Bulimia’s Effects on the Face & Cheeks 

Bulimia can cause puffiness in the face as a result of purging, which can cause swelling in the parotid glands. While not dangerous, this swelling can sometimes cause pain and significantly affect a person’s facial aesthetic.

Most effective treatments for eating disorders

The Most Effective Treatments for Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition that can have dangerous and long-lasting impacts on physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It often manifests as cycles of binge eating and purging, which can lead to or support a number of other harmful symptoms.

Orthorexia vs. Anorexia | Is There a Comparison?

Eating disorders are dangerous mental health conditions that impact many aspects of psychological, physical, and emotional health. And while every disorder can manifest in different ways for everyone, it’s important to know the differences between different eating disorders.

Person standing alone outside

Causes of Anorexia & How to Prevent It

Anorexia nervosa is a complex, serious mental health condition that has many contributing biopsychosocial—or biological, psychological, and social—causes. These can include hormones, genetics, co-occurring mental health challenges, and societal attitudes about food, weight, fitness, and health, among others.

Russell's sign

Effects of Bulimia on the Hands & Knuckles

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder that can cause significant wear on the hands and the knuckles specifically, resulting in something called Russell’s sign (also referred to as “bulimia hands”). This occurs primarily because of the incisors repeatedly grinding against the skin when a person induces vomiting.

Woman searching on her computer

How to Choose a Bulimia Treatment Program/Center 

Choosing a bulimia nervosa treatment program, or a program to help with other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa (AN) or binge eating disorder (BED), can feel like an overwhelming process.

Alternative holistic therapy

Alternative and Holistic Care for Bulimia

While many evidence-based treatments are often used to help people struggling with bulimia nervosa (BN), some types of alternative and holistic therapy may also be able to help.