Question 1

What age does bulimia usually start?

Accepted Answer

Bulimia nervosa usually starts between the ages of 12 to 25 years old. At this age, young adults face a lot of peer pressure to appear thin and look their best. While this is an average, bulimia can start in younger children and older young adults.

Children and teens with bulimia run the risk of long-term health issues, such as diabetes and brittle bones, since malnutrition can damage their developing bodies.

Generally, bulimia affects primarily women, but it can be a disorder present in men. Feelings of helplessness and self-esteem issues can lead to bulimia, and some bulimics began the process of binging and purging in childhood.

With children and teenagers who suffer from bulimia, there is a greater chance of eating disorders overlapping. Someone with bulimia may develop anorexia nervosa or binge-eating as well.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 2

What Does Bulimia Do to Your Face?

Accepted Answer

Even occasional bulimia can result in a swollen face. It's caused by the act of binging and purging.

In fact, face swelling people in people suffering from bulimia nervosa is so common that it's often referred to as "bulimia face," "bulimia cheeks," or "chipmunk cheeks."

Many people who have bulimia also have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

BDD causes people to feel so worried about the way their body looks that it interferes with their ability to function.

When someone with bulimia looks in the mirror, they often find the purging's impact on their faces to be one of the most troubling.

It can cause them to feel like they have a fat face when—in fact—the swelling is due to their behavior of forced vomiting.

Why bulimia causes the face to swell

The facial swelling occurs because the body gets dehydrated from vomiting.

As the body begins to dehydrate, it automatically starts to store water, typically in the parotid glands. These are the glands ring the jawline and the sides of the face.

When these glands swell, it gives the face a swollen look.

This occurs in approximately 10–50% of patients, depending on the frequency of vomiting.

Swelling can also occur when daily self-induced vomiting suddenly stops. The same glands, the parotid glands swell, causing the the face to look swollen.

At first, this facial swelling will occur on occasion, however, eventually it persists.

Research suggests it can take 3-6 days after a bingeing-purging episode for the swelling to appear.

How to get help

Eating disorders are more pervasive, more dangerous, and most of all, more complicated than you might think.

It's essential to reach out to a medical or mental health professional for help. The appearance of "chipmunk cheeks" may suggest symptoms of bulimia.

However, before questioning or accusing someone of having an eating disorder, experts recommend you first talk to a medical or mental health professional.

If you or someone you know is seeking mental health care for an eating disorder, you can find licensed therapists who specialize in treating eating disorders on the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice.

There are also counselors who specialize in binge eating disorder.

Some additional resources are included below:

National Eating Disorders Association
- Live Helpline: 800-931-2237 Hours (PST): Monday through Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm
- For crisis situations, text “NEDA” to 741741 to be connected with a trained volunteer at Crisis Text Line.

Consider joining a clinical trial

Clinical trials are research studies that examine innovative methods for preventing, diagnosing, and treating illnesses.

Medical experts use clinical trials to test new treatments to make sure they're safe and effective.

Although individuals may benefit from participating in a clinical study, they must be aware that the primary goal of a clinical trial is to gather new scientific knowledge so that future patients can be better served.

Many investigations are conducted by researchers across the country. Because of what studies discovered years ago, we now have new and better treatment options.

To learn more or find a study, visit:

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 3

What are the negative effects of bulimia?

Accepted Answer

There are many negative effects of bulimia, including:

Erosion of tooth enamel, causing decay and discoloration
Swollen face
Diabetes
Brittle bones
Reproduction problems
Irregular menstrual cycle
Sore throat
Esophageal or peptic ulcers
Ruptured esophagus
Dehydration
Malnutrition
High blood sugar level
Raspy voice
Redness in the eyes
Mood swings
Depression
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Anxiety
Harming one's self
Isolation from friends and family
Reduced heart rate
Low blood pressure
Fainting
Abnormal heartbeats

With treatment, someone suffering from bulimia can reverse most of these effects. Some effects may require medical intervention to reverse.

For example, tooth decay may require the patient's dentist to fill the cavities or to place a cap over the tooth to repair discoloration. However, diabetes and brittle bones may remain a lifelong struggle that the person needs treatment for on an ongoing basis to keep them healthy.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 4

Can bulimia cause throat problems?

Accepted Answer

Yes, bulimia can cause throat problems. In fact, one of the first signs of bulimia is a sore throat. The substance that comes out of the stomach when a person with bulimia vomits contains acids. These acids irritate the throat and can cause damage in people who struggle with bulimia long-term.

Other throat issues caused by bulimia include esophageal or peptic ulcers. These are open sores in the throat that can cause discomfort when the person drinks, eats, and swallows. If blood is present, the person needs to seek immediate help from a doctor.

In the worst case, the esophagus may rupture. This is a tear in the mucous membrane that connects the patient's stomach to the esophagus. This can be a life-threatening condition, requiring urgent medical care and possibly surgery to correct the condition. The sign of an esophagus rupture is vomiting bright red blood.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 5

Can effects of bulimia be reversed?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the effects of bulimia can usually be reversed if a person seeks treatment and overcomes the disease. However, there are some effects that may require medical treatments to reverse.

For instance, if the patient has suffered erosion on the teeth that caused discoloration or tooth decay, their dentist may need to add fillings or possibly cap the teeth to make them appear normal again.

Depending on the age of the patient, there may be some effects that aren't reversible, such as the reduction of calcium that can cause brittle bones as the person grows older. Also, malnutrition and high doses of sugar can cause a person suffering from bulimia to develop diabetes mellitus type 2. These might be issues that the person cannot reverse and needs treatment for on an ongoing basis.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 6

Can dentists tell if you are bulimic?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most cases, a dentist can tell if a person is bulimic. The stomach acids that come out when a person vomits scars and damages the back of the teeth. This erosion of tooth enamel, along with redness around the lips can indicate bulimia. Erosion of tooth enamel can also change the shape, size, and color of the person's teeth which can also suggest bulimia.

Also, the dental patient might mention experiencing sensitivity and dry mouth. A dentist might also notice a sudden weight loss in a long-term patient that's another indication of an eating disorder.

Bulimia is one of the few health conditions that cause such damage to the mouth and teeth. Dentists are trained to spot these signs of bulimia in patients even if they aren't apparent to others.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 7

Can bulimia be cured?

Accepted Answer

Yes, bullima can be cured. The treatment plan for bulimia usually involves a combination of nutritional therapy, psychotherapy, and medication.

Nutritional therapy involves counseling by a registered dietitian to help the patient adopt healthy eating habits.
Psychotherapy is counseling to help the patient overcome harmful behaviors and thoughts. The therapist may advise the patient on how to detect and control triggers to purge and manage the stressors that induce the condition. The therapist may employ techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help the patient adopt healthy thought patterns.
Medication in the form of Flouxetine (Prozac) is often used to treat bulimia. It helps reduce the urge to purge by inducing relaxation during meals. Some counselors prescribe antidepressants to help patients manage anxiety or depression. Due to the risk bulimia poses to the body, the therapist may advise the patient to see a physician.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 8

What are 3 effects of bulimia?

Accepted Answer

Three (3) effects of bulimia are:

Reproductive issues
Increases risk of diabetes
Brittle bones

Bulimia can cause a woman's menstrual cycle to become infrequent. Without a normal cycle, women find it hard to conceive a baby. Women, who recover from bulimia, slowly return to a normal cycle. Pregnancy can cause relapse as the woman concentrates on her diet.

During binge periods, people with bulimia tend to choose foods with high sugar and carb counts that send their blood sugar surging. A high blood sugar level can promote the development of diabetes mellitus type 2.

Without the proper amounts of calcium in the diet, the bones might not develop properly in the teen years into adulthood. Bulimia deprives the body of essential nutrients, and this can lead to brittle bones as the person ages.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

Question 9

Who is most affected by bulimia?

Accepted Answer

Bulimia Nervosa affects between 1-1.5% of females and there is a 10:1 ratio of females to males suffering from the disorder, according to The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

It affects more girls and young women than mature women. Most girls develop the condition at the age of 18 or 19. The groups that have the highest risk of bulimia are teen girls aged 15 to 19 and young women between 20 and 25 years.

Need to find a therapist near you? Check out the Monarch Directory by SimplePractice to find licensed mental health therapists with availability and online booking.

What age does bulimia usually start?

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