Signs and Symptoms
The hallmark symptoms of bulimia include:
- Binging on large amounts of food within a short period of time
- Purging the body by inducing vomiting, using laxatives, diuretics, or appetite suppressants
- Alternating binges with diets, resulting in weight fluctuations
When to Seek Professional Help
You should seek professional help and guidance when the teenager:
- Skips meals and prefers to eat alone
- Spends much time alone in the bathroom
- Exercises excessively
- Abuses diet pills
- Steals and hoards food
- Uses over-the-counter emetics and laxatives
How Bulimia is Treated
A number of treatment methods have proven effective. These include:
- Prescription of antidepressants to alleviate the symptoms and/or relieve accompanying depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive symptoms
- Individual therapy (particularly cognitive behavior therapy and interpersonal therapy), group and family therapy
- Education on healthy eating habits by a nutritionist
The Risks of Not Treating a Teenager with Bulimia
Undetected or untreated bulimia can lead to:
- Dental cavities and loss of tooth enamel
- A dangerous electrolyte balance, irregular heartbeat
- Impulsive behaviors such as overspending and sexual promiscuity
- Depression, anxiety, low self-esteem
- Drug and alcohol abuse
More Information
For more information and a list of related articles, visit the Eating Disorders page of our A-Z Disorder Guide.
