Bulimia

Recognising bulimia isn’t always easy as some signs are subtle while others can be easily concealed from loved ones. If you are worried about someone you know, here are some of the telltale signs of bulimia that may point to a problem:

• Rushing off to the bathroom right after meals and spending a lot of time in there.
• Sore-looking cheeks or a swollen jaw that doesn’t seem normal.
• Complaints of tooth pain or more cavities than usual, caused by vomiting.
• Packets of laxatives up in their home or car.
• Eating habits that seem odd, like hiding food or eating secretly when no one’s around.
• Talking constantly about dieting or weight, even if they look healthy.
• Exercising a lot, even when they’re clearly exhausted.
• Their weight goes up and down more than usual.
• They often seem drained, distracted or not themselves, possibly from poor nutrition.

If someone you care about is showing these Bulimia symptoms, reaching out with kindness and understanding could be the first step toward helping them heal.

Bulimia’s causes are complex and rarely have anything to do with food at all. Extensive research has been done into the causes with some of the recognised factors including:

Your genes

Just like you might inherit your parent’s eye colour or smile, you can also inherit certain traits that make you more vulnerable to bulimia. It is not possible to know if you have these genes, but if someone in your family has had an eating disorder or a mental health issue, that could be a sign of heightened risk.

Trauma and mental health

Going through tough things like anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem can feel overwhelming, and a painful past – like experiencing trauma or abuse – makes things even harder. Bulimia can sometimes start as a way to deal with these feelings, even though it causes harm in the long run. In fact, studies show that between 21% and 59% of people with eating disorders experienced child abuse earlier in life.

Societal pressure

Social media can be fun but it often shows us a world that isn’t real. Perfect-looking pictures of influencers, celebrities or even our friends are often edited or staged. This can make many people, especially young ones, feel like they don’t measure up. Over time, this kind of pressure can affect how you feel about yourself and your body, leading to struggles like bulimia.

Extreme or limited diets

Strict dieting can sometimes lead to bulimia without you even realising it. If you eat too little, your body can get so hungry that it causes a binge, where you eat a lot at once. Afterwards, you might feel upset or guilty and try to get rid of the food by purging it. People may diet for many reasons, like losing weight or meeting the demands of a job or sport like ballet, but extreme restrictions can quickly become unhealthy.

Personal factors

Life can throw big challenges your way, like relationship troubles, bullying or starting fresh in a new place after moving house. For some, food becomes the one thing they feel they can control, which might lead to harmful patterns like bulimia.

Bulimia can cause serious harm and can even be life-threatening if you don’t get treatment. Understanding the dangers can be scary and shocking but is an important step in reaching out for help:

Physical dangers

Purging puts a huge strain on your body. Vomiting can damage your teeth and throat because of stomach acid. Over time, it can wear away tooth enamel, cause painful throat irritation and even lead to life-threatening tears in your oesophagus. Purging also throws off your body’s electrolyte levels, which can cause various heart issues and even fatal heart failure. Your kidneys and liver can also struggle under the pressure, leading to dangerous dehydration and organ damage.

Mental health dangers

Living with bulimia often means battling anxiety, depression and constant worries about food, weight and body image. The endless purging-bingeing cycle can leave you feeling trapped, weighed down by shame, guilt and hopelessness which can lead to dangerous thoughts and actions.

Long-term dangers

If bulimia isn’t treated, the damage can build up over time. You could face long-term health problems like severe malnutrition, infertility or permanent organ damage. That is why getting help sooner rather than later is so important.

Bulimia treatment begins with understanding what drives your struggles with food and finding ways to heal step by step.

Banbury Lodge is Liberty House’s partner centre and it is one of the UK’s leading clinics for bulimia treatment. The first priority is your health, so if bulimia has taken a toll on your body, you first need to get medical care to address issues like dehydration or malnutrition.

Once your body feels stronger, you can then begin rehab treatment at Banbury Lodge. This includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which helps you understand and manage the thoughts and feelings that lead to bulimia, and holistic therapies like yoga, meditation and art to bring calm and peace to your life. You will also take part in family therapy and group counselling, where you can connect with loved ones or others who understand what you’re going through, giving you extra support as you heal.

Nutritional counselling also plays a big role in bulimia treatment at Banbury Lodge. You will learn how to build healthier eating habits with the private chef making your meals during rehab and giving you a plan to stick to long-term.
Aftercare will help you take that plan and everything you learned during treatment into real life. We offer a whole year of free weekly group therapy so you will always have someone to speak to, no matter what. You will also become a valued member of our awesome Alumni Programme, where you can keep up with your recovery peers, make new friends and attend regular events and parties.

If you are ready for a healthier, happier life, Banbury Lodge can help. You have been strong enough to get this far, now it’s time to beat bulimia for good. Imagine a future where meals don’t bring fear and mirrors reflect confidence. Contact Banbury Lodge today, and that dream can become your reality.