Bulimia Nervosa

What is it?

Bulimia Nervosa is the name of an eating disorder where a person binge eats and thenuses means like self-induced vomiting, too much exercise, fasting, water pills, orlaxatives to avoid gaining weight.

What causes it?

While the exact cause is unknown, many individuals suffering from Bulimia Nervosa haveinternalized the "thin ideal" from a host of other factors that may include media,athletics (e.g. ballet, running, etc.), or a prior experience with a loved one and/oranother significant person in which their weight and/or size was questioned. Furtherstudy is under way.

How do you know when someone has it?

An individual that suffers from Bulimia will have some of the following symptoms:

• Frequent binges (eating lots of food in a short period of time)
• Lack of control over eating
• Self-induced vomiting
• Pathological use of dieting, fasting or exercise in order to prevent weight gain
• Judging oneself primarily by the shape and/or weight of the body

Additional symptoms may include the following:

• Dramatic reduction of food or liquids
• Use of water pills or laxatives
• Abuse of Ipecac or enemas (purging)
• Appetite loss
• Gaining or losing 10 or more pounds
• Menstrual problems
• Severe tooth decay
• Loss of hair
• Regular sore throats

What can happen to people with Bulimia?

The teenage years are the most common starting point for Bulimia, although it can beginlater in life. Most individuals who suffer from Bulimia (90%) are female. The severityof the illness can either fluctuate between periods of getting worse and getting betteror it can remain constant. Typical binge-eating episodes alternate with periods ofregular eating and, perhaps, fasting. In more extreme cases, bingeing and fasting canalternate with no periods of relatively normal eating.

How do you help a loved one suffering from Bulimia?

The types of treatment for Bulimia vary widely. They generally include psychotherapydone individually, with a group, and/or with the family. Education about nutrition isoften provided. Medications can be an important part of treatment. Depending on theindividual's condition, their eating and their environment may need to be controlledfor them. In extreme cases, hospitalization is required and eating and eliminationpatterns are carefully monitored. As the patient is then stabilized, control of whatthey eat and their environment is gradually returned to them. Regardless of theindividual's condition, structure, long-term psychotherapy, and a good behavioraltreatment plan are essential to success.

How CERTS helps those with Bulimia

CERTS therapists have experience in successfully treating individuals with eatingdisorders like Bulimia. This success results from the CERTS formula of balancingoutstanding clinical therapy, experiential therapy, and education, both nutritionaland academic, while providing appropriate medical care.

Adolescents receive regular therapy from therapists with experience in working witheating disorders. Experiential therapy programs (such as equine therapy) offered atthe facilities have also proven helpful. A fun and challenging academic educationenhances self-esteem and encourages students to rediscover the joy of learning whilethey clinically stabilize. To learn more about which CERTS program can best offer thehelp you may require, please contact a CERTS admissions counselor at 801-755-8802.

Learn More About Bulimia

Kid's Health
National Eating Disorders Association
New York Presbyterian Hospital

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