Eating lots of food.
Making myself sick.
#thatsMe
It’s normal to ‘overindulge’ in food sometimes. But what happens when you eat a lot of food with the intention of getting sick, taking laxatives, exercising, or fasting to compensate?
If bulimia is affecting your life, our GPs can help.
Eating lots of food.
Making myself sick.
#thatsMe
It’s normal to ‘overindulge’ in food sometimes. But what happens when you eat a lot of food with the intention of getting sick, taking laxatives, exercising, or fasting to compensate?
If bulimia is affecting your life, our GPs can help.
What’s it like to have bulimia?
Bulimia is a fear of putting on weight. You often eat a large amount of food in a very short space of time (binge eating). Then make yourself vomit or use laxatives or exercise to rid yourself of that food (purging). It’s a cycle that can dominate your daily life.
Bulimia can be hard to spot from the outside. Some with bulimia often feel tired, bloated, constipated. You can also have teeth issues from making yourself sick. But mentally, bulimia can feel like a burden on your life..
If you’re struggling with bulimia, you’re not alone.
Bulimia can affect anyone of any age, gender, race, or background. Over 666,500 people in the UK suffer from bulimia. 75% of those affected by an eating disorder are female. Those with a family history of eating disorders are more likely to develop one.
It can be hard to diagnose bulimia as it often overlaps with signs and symptoms of other eating disorders.
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You don’t need to have a full idea of what’s wrong before speaking to us. If something is bothering you, or your symptoms are affecting your life, then we can help.
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"It was a cycle of shame that I couldn’t shake. I’d find myself in the bathroom after every meal.”
Peter’s bulimia began when he started taking his gymnastics training seriously.
He believed he had to get into peak physical condition. He hoped by making himself sick, he could maintain his weight without concern.
After months of keeping it under wraps, Peter realised his binge and purge cycles were a problem. He became obsessed with purging any food he put into his body. Eventually, his trainer reached out to him and recommended he got help. He spoke to our GPs who helped him understand the thoughts and feelings that caused him to feel this way.
Why would I see a GP for
my mental health?
Our GPs look beyond your mind to assess a complete, overall picture of your health. That includes looking at physical problems arising from their mental health concerns or mental health issues arising from physical problems. As well as environmental factors that contribute to how you're feeling in 40-minute appointments.
Our GPs train with mental health specialists to improve the way we evaluate patients. With their many years of experience, they're well equipped to look after your mental health concerns. Each doctor can put together individualised plans and goals to improve your overall wellbeing.
With the help of our GPs, you’ll be shown how to deal with your health concerns; understand what you can control, and what you can’t. It’s a full-bodied approach to care.
It’s estimated that 3.4 million people in the UK are affected by an eating disorder
