Bulimia Nervosa

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.

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