Health Information
Bulimia Nervosa
When To Call a Doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with bulimia and now:
- Is not able to pass urine.
- Notices that his or her heart skips beats or beats slower than normal.
- Has
severe belly pain, is vomiting up blood, or has black, sticky stools that
look like tar. These signs may mean that there is bleeding in the
Reference digestive tract Opens New Window Reference
Opens New Window.
Call your doctor to discuss bulimia if you or someone you care about:
- Binges and then purges to get rid of food.
- Is concerned about weight and is embarrassed about eating behaviors.
- Shows signs of an eating disorder, such as secretive eating habits, a preoccupation with body image, or an unhealthy appearance.
Watchful waiting
Taking a wait-and-see approach (called watchful waiting) is not appropriate if you think you or someone you know may have an eating disorder. Call a doctor or an eating disorder hotline to discuss your concerns and learn what you can do to help.
Who to see
Bulimia may be diagnosed and treated by the following health professionals:
- Reference Family medicine physician Opens New Window
- Reference Psychiatrist Opens New Window
- Reference Psychologist Opens New Window
- Reference Physician assistant Opens New Window
- Reference Nurse practitioner Opens New Window
- Reference Licensed mental health counselor Opens New Window
- Reference Registered dietitian Opens New Window
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference August 25, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Reference W. Stewart Agras, MD, FRCPC - Psychiatry |
|
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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
