Category: Bulimia

Patient talking to an insurance agent

Insurance Coverage for Bulimia Nervosa 

Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN), anorexia nervosa (AN), and binge eating disorder (BED), among others, are complex mental health conditions that can have serious consequences if left untreated.

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Tina Chang
March 30, 2023
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.

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Tina Chang
March 17, 2023
Alternative holistic therapy

Alternative and Holistic Care for Bulimia

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

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Tina Chang
March 11, 2023
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 types, including bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), and more.

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Tina Chang
March 10, 2023
Cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Bulimia 

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of therapy used for treating mental disorders of all types, including bulimia nervosa (BN). It has a heavy focus on restructuring how a person thinks, teaching them to redirect, and, eventually, eliminate negative thought patterns in order to engage in healthier behavior.

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Tina Chang
March 9, 2023

Bulimia and Cancer: What are the Connections?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition that can contribute to a number of consequences on someone’s physical and emotional well-being. And unfortunately, some studies have shown that one of the physical effects of BN is a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer. Research into the connection between the two conditions is still ongoing, and […]

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Tina Chang
March 6, 2023
Medications to treat bulimia

Dangers of Medications When Treating Bulimia 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a serious mental health condition, marked by periods of binge eating and compensatory purging behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or excessive exercise.

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Tina Chang
February 9, 2023
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.

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Tina Chang
February 9, 2023
Inpatient bulimia treatment

Inpatient Treatment for Bulimia: What to Expect 

Many different levels of care can help people struggling with eating disorders, including bulimia nervosa (BN). No type of eating disorder treatment is “better” or “worse,” but rather more well-suited for someone’s particular case.

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Tina Chang
February 8, 2023
Bulimia and alcohol abuse

The Dangers of Bulimia Nervosa and Alcohol Abuse

Many people with one mental health condition will be diagnosed with a comorbid, or co-occurring, disorder. One of the more common comorbid diagnoses is bulimia nervosa (BN) and substance use disorder (SUD).

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Tina Chang
February 6, 2023
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.

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Tina Chang
January 27, 2023
Person with bulimia and substance use disorder

Is Bulimia an Addiction?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is a mental health condition that manifests as disordered eating behavior. But it can also share many of the same characteristics of drug addiction.

Recent research has found similar connections in the brain that are activated when someone engages in a binging episode and when someone uses recreational drugs.

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Tina Chang
January 18, 2023
Anxiety and bulimia

The Relationship Between Bulimia & Anxiety 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder and mental health condition that commonly co-occurs with other mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. 

When it comes to anxiety in particular, the condition can be complexly intertwined with BN, and either condition can lead to the development of the other. In fact, studies have shown that as many as 65% of people with an eating disorder also have an anxiety disorder. [1]

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Tina Chang
January 12, 2023
Anemia issues from bulimia

Bulimia & Anemia 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) and anemia are often linked, with an estimated overlap rate of more than 11%. [1]

The disordered eating and behavioral patterns associated with bulimia nervosa can cause the body to become deficient in a variety of necessary vitamins and minerals. When the condition leads to a low iron count, it can lead to anemia.

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Tina Chang
January 9, 2023
Bulimia and swollen glands

Can Bulimia Cause Swollen Glands?

Bulimia nervosa (BN) can cause a wide range of medical issues, including the swelling of certain glands. Glands in the throat and the face are often particularly impacted.

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Tina Chang
January 9, 2023
Stomach issues

Bulimia & GERD: Causes, Signs & Treatment 

Bulimia nervosa (BN) can cause or aggravate a variety of gastrointestinal problems, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

The stomach condition is most closely tied to purging type bulimia nervosa, which is expressed when someone physically purges the contents of their stomach, through any variety of methods.

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Tina Chang
January 9, 2023
Bulimia in men and boys

Bulimia Nervosa in Men & Boys

Though people tend to associate eating disorders exclusively with cis-gender women, these conditions impact people of all gender identities, including cis-gender men.

In fact, the number of males diagnosed with an eating disorder jumped up by 70% between 2008 and 2018. [1]

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Tina Chang
January 5, 2023
Bulimia and acid reflux

The Relationship Between Bulimia, Acid Reflux & GERD

While research is ongoing, there have been some studies and reports suggesting a relationship between bulimia nervosa (BN) and acid reflux.

If left untreated, this type of digestive difficulty can eventually lead to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a fairly serious, chronic condition that can also cause further health complications over time.

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Tina Chang
January 3, 2023
Person searching for information

The Effects of Bulimia on the Parotid Gland 

Bulimia can impact the parotid glands, which are salivary glands that serve a number of important purposes. Repeated purging can cause these glands to swell, which can change the shape of the face and potentially cause other health complications.

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Tina Chang
December 26, 2022
Effects of bulimia on the throat

The Effects of Bulimia on the Throat

Due to the physical impact of purging, bulimia nervosa (BN) has the potential to cause significant damage to the throat.

These complications can make it hard to talk and painful to swallow. And the repeated behavior can even increase the risk of esophageal cancer, a dangerous and potentially deadly condition.

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Tina Chang
December 20, 2022
Person visiting doctor's office

What Bulimia Does to the Mouth 

Bulimia can cause significant damage to a person’s oral health, especially their teeth, mostly as a result of purging. 

And while it’s possible to stop or reverse some of these effects, the longer someone struggles with disordered eating behavior, the more at risk they become for imparting permanent damage.

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Tina Chang
December 19, 2022
Can bulimia kill you?

Can Bulimia Kill You?

Of all mental health disorders, eating disorders are often considered the most dangerous—and, sadly, the conditions often have a high mortality rate.

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Tina Chang
December 19, 2022
Patient at doctor's office

Bulimia And Laxative Misuse 

Many people with bulimia nervosa (BN) or other eating disorders misuse laxatives in the hopes of losing or controlling weight. But this practice is not only ineffective, it can also be dangerous.

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Tina Chang
December 17, 2022

How Does Bulimia Affect Your Jaw?

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.

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Tina Chang
December 13, 2022
Medications

Using Prozac to Treat Bulimia: Research & Effectiveness 

While more research is arguably needed on the subject, Prozac is approved for the treatment of bulimia, although it works best when combined with other talk-based therapies. 

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Tina Chang
December 5, 2022
Person looking into the distance

Risk Factors & Predictors of Anorexia 

There are a number of indicators that you may be more susceptible to developing anorexia nervosa (AN). Everything from your individual physiology, to the way you think about your body, to your cultural upbringing can all be potential anorexia risk factors.

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Tina Chang
December 2, 2022
Bulimia's affect on teeth

How Anorexia Affects the Teeth 

Anorexia nervosa may be accompanied by episodes of purging, which is called purging type anorexia. This version of the disorder affects the teeth, as the acid in vomit can wear down enamel. 

But there are certain techniques that can be adopted to help reduce the damage purging can cause.

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Tina Chang
December 1, 2022
Bulimia facts

5 Bulimia Facts That May Surprise You

Understanding bulimia facts can help you spot the condition in people who need help. And armed with information, you can help them to get the treatment they need.

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Tina Chang
November 22, 2022
Person questioning if they have bulimia

Am I Bulimic? Questions to Ask Yourself 

Run a search for “bulimia test,” and you’ll get more than 8 million Google results. Should you take one? And what should you do with your score?

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Bulimia.com Staff
November 18, 2022
woman at dentist

Bulimia & the Teeth: Effects & Signs of Damage

Bulimia doesn’t technically harm your teeth. But one habit common in people with bulimia can cause extensive dental damage you’ll need a professional to address

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admin
November 18, 2022