Symptoms of Bulimia nervosa
Symptoms of Bulimia nervosa
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Bulimia nervosa includes the 47
symptoms listed below:
Research symptoms & diagnosis of Bulimia nervosa:
Bulimia nervosa: Complications
Review medical complications possibly associated with Bulimia nervosa:
Bulimia nervosa Symptoms: Book Excerpts
Research More About Bulimia nervosa
Do I have Bulimia nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa: Medical Mistakes
Bulimia nervosa: Undiagnosed Conditions
Diseases that may be commonly undiagnosed in related medical areas:
Home Diagnostic Testing
Home medical tests related to Bulimia nervosa:
- Child Behavior: Home Testing
- Mental Health (Adults): Home Testing
- Mental Health: Home Testing:
- Brain & Neurological Disorders: Related Home Testing:
- more home tests...»
Wrongly Diagnosed with Bulimia nervosa?
The list of other diseases or medical conditions
that may be on the differential diagnosis list of alternative diagnoses
for Bulimia nervosa includes:
See the full list of 17
alternative diagnoses for Bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa: Research Doctors & Specialists
Research all specialists including ratings, affiliations, and sanctions.
More about symptoms of Bulimia nervosa:
More information about symptoms of Bulimia nervosa and related conditions:
Other Possible Causes of these Symptoms
Click on any of the symptoms below to see a full list
of other causes including diseases, medical conditions, toxins, drug interactions,
or drug side effect causes of that symptom.
Medical Books Online about Bulimia nervosa
Medical Books Excerpts
Excerpts of published medical book chapters related to Bulimia nervosa
are available from published medical books
for more detailed information about Bulimia nervosa.
Medical Books Excerpts
- Weight Loss
- "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
- [ read ]
- Bulimia
- "The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult" (2008)
- [ read ]
Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.
Related videos for Bulimia nervosa
A diagnosis of breast cancer usually leads to some form of surgery. Afterward, various therapies help guard against spread or recurrence of disease....
Many obese people are turning to stomach surgery to help them get on the road to a healthier life. Learn about the different procedures doctors are...
Deciding to embark on a plan to lose weight will depend on whether you feel you need to lose a few pounds. But being overweight is more than just...
Calcium is an essential part of a good osteoporosis prevention plan. Low calcium intake has been shown to cause low bone mass, so you need to get the...
See full list of 32 related videos
Patient Surveys for Bulimia nervosa
Symptoms of Bulimia nervosa: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the symptoms of Bulimia nervosa.
Bulimia nervosa:
Signs and symptoms
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
The history of a patient with bulimia nervosa is characterized by episodes of binge eating that may occur up to several times per day. The patient commonly reports a binge-eating episode during which she continues eating until abdominal pain, sleep, or the presence of another person interrupts it. The preferred food is usually sweet, soft, and high in calories and carbohydrate content.
The patient with bulimia may appear thin and emaciated. Typically, however, although her weight frequently fluctuates, it usually stays within normal limits — through the use of diuretics, laxatives, vomiting, and exercise. So, unlike the patient with anorexia, the patient with bulimia can usually hide her eating disorder.
Overt clues to this disorder include hyperactivity, peculiar eating habits or rituals, frequent weighing, and a distorted body image. (See Characteristics of patients with bulimia.)
The patient may complain of abdominal and epigastric pain caused by acute gastric dilation. She may also have amenorrhea. Repetitive vomiting may cause painless swelling of the salivary glands, hoarseness, throat irritation or lacerations, and dental erosion. The patient may also exhibit calluses on the knuckles or abrasions and scars on the dorsum of the hand, resulting from tooth injury during self-induced vomiting, although it’s common for the patient with bulimia to induce vomiting chemically such as with ipecac.
A patient with bulimia commonly is perceived by others as a “perfect” student, mother, or career woman; an adolescent may be distinguished for participation in competitive activities such as sports. However, the patient’s psychosocial history may reveal an exaggerated sense of guilt, symptoms of depression, childhood trauma (especially sexual abuse), parental obesity, or a history of unsatisfactory sexual relationships.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Bulimia nervosa:
Signs and symptoms
(Handbook of Diseases)
The history of a patient with bulimia nervosa is marked by episodes of binge eating that may occur up to several times per day. The patient commonly reports a binge-eating episode during which she continues eating until abdominal pain, sleep, or the presence of another person interrupts it. The preferred food usually is sweet, soft, and high in calories and carbohydrate content.
The bulimic patient may appear thin and emaciated. Typically, however, although her weight frequently fluctuates, it usually stays within normal limits through the use of diuretics, laxatives, vomiting, and exercise. So, unlike the anorexic patient, the bulimic patient can usually hide her eating disorder.
Overt clues to this disorder include hyperactivity, peculiar eating habits or rituals, frequent weighing, and a distorted body image.
The patient may complain of abdominal and epigastric pain caused by acute gastric dilation. She may also have amenorrhea. Repetitive vomiting may cause painless swelling of the salivary glands, hoarseness, throat irritation or lacerations, and dental erosion. The patient may also exhibit calluses on the knuckles or abrasions and scars on the dorsum of the hand, resulting from tooth injury during self-induced vomiting.
Psychosocial factors
A bulimic patient commonly is perceived by others as a “perfect” student, mother, or career woman; an adolescent may be distinguished for participation in competitive activities such as sports. However, the patient’s psychosocial history may reveal an exaggerated sense of guilt, symptoms of depression, childhood trauma (especially sexual abuse), parental obesity, or a history of unsatisfactory sexual relationships.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Article Excerpts About Symptoms of Bulimia nervosa:
Bulimia Nervosa: NWHIC (Excerpt)
The binge-purge cycle may be accompanied by self-deprecating thoughts,
depression, and an awareness that the eating is abnormal and out of
control. Bulimia may be present when a person frequently shows some of the
following warning sings.
-
Evidence of binge-eating, including disappearance of large
amounts of food in short periods of time or the existence of wrappers
and containers indicating the consumption of large amounts of food.
-
Evidence of purging behaviors, including frequent trips to
the bathroom after meals, signs and/or smells of vomiting, presence of
wrappers or packages of laxatives or diuretics.
-
Excessive, rigid exercise regimen-the feeling to "burn
off" calories taken in despite weather, fatigue, illness, or injury.
-
Unusual swelling of the cheeks or jaw area
-
Calluses on the back of the hands and knuckles from
self-induced vomiting.
-
Discoloration or staining of the teeth.
-
Creation of complex lifestyle schedules or rituals to make
time for binge-and-purge sessions.
-
Withdrawal from usual friends and activities.
-
In general, behaviors and attitudes indicating that weight
loss, dieting, and control of food are becoming primary
concerns.
(Source: excerpt from
Bulimia Nervosa: NWHIC)
Fact Sheet Eating Disorders: NWHIC (Excerpt)
As with anorexia nervosa, those with bulimia are
overly concerned with food, body weight, and shape. Because many
individuals with bulimia 'binge and purge' in secret and maintain
normal or above normal body weight, they can often hide the disorder
from others for years. Binges can range from once or twice a week to
several times a day and can be triggered by a variety of emotions
such as depression, boredom, or anger. The illness may be constant
or occasional, with periods of remission alternating with
recurrences of binge eating. (Source: excerpt from Fact Sheet Eating Disorders: NWHIC)
Fact Sheet Eating Disorders: NWHIC (Excerpt)
A person with Bulimia may…
- Become very secretive about food, spend a lot
of time thinking about and planning the next binge
- Take repeated trips to the bathroom,
particularly after eating
- Steal food or hoard it in strange places
- Engage in compulsive exercising If an
individual is displaying any of these characteristics, they should
be taken to a physician, nutritionist, or other professional with
expertise in diagnosing eating disorders.
(Source: excerpt from
Fact Sheet Eating Disorders: NWHIC)
Eating Disorders Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions: NIMH (Excerpt)
Symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:
- Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by eating an
excessive amount of food within a discrete period of time and by a sense
of lack of control over eating during the episode
- Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent
weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting or misuse of laxatives,
diuretics, enemas, or other medications (purging); fasting; or excessive
exercise
- The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both
occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months
- Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight
Because purging or other compensatory behavior follows the binge-eating
episodes, people with bulimia usually weigh within the normal range for
their age and height. However, like individuals with anorexia, they may
fear gaining weight, desire to lose weight, and feel intensely
dissatisfied with their bodies. People with bulimia often perform the
behaviors in secrecy, feeling disgusted and ashamed when they binge, yet
relieved once they purge.
(Source: excerpt from Eating Disorders Facts About Eating Disorders and the Search for Solutions: NIMH)
Bulimia nervosa as a Cause of Symptoms or Medical Conditions
When considering symptoms of Bulimia nervosa, it is also important to consider Bulimia nervosa as a possible cause of other medical conditions.
The Disease Database lists the following medical conditions that Bulimia nervosa may cause:
- (Source - Diseases Database)
Bulimia nervosa as a symptom:
For a more detailed analysis of Bulimia nervosa as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Bulimia nervosa.
Medical articles and books on symptoms:
These general reference articles may be of interest
in relation to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
Full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
About signs and symptoms of Bulimia nervosa:
The symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Bulimia nervosa.
This signs and symptoms information for Bulimia nervosa has been gathered from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Bulimia nervosa signs or Bulimia nervosa symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Bulimia nervosa may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Bulimia nervosa symptoms.
A diagnosis of breast cancer usually leads to some form of surgery. Afterward, various therapies help guard against spread or recurrence of disease....
Many obese people are turning to stomach surgery to help them get on the road to a healthier life. Learn about the different procedures doctors are...
Deciding to embark on a plan to lose weight will depend on whether you feel you need to lose a few pounds. But being overweight is more than just...
Calcium is an essential part of a good osteoporosis prevention plan. Low calcium intake has been shown to cause low bone mass, so you need to get the...
See full list of 32 related videos
» Next page: Diagnostic Tests for Bulimia nervosa
Rate This Website
What do you think about the features of this website?
Take our user survey and have your say:
Website User Survey
Medical Tools & Articles:
Next articles:
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Forums & Message Boards
- Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
