Bulimia

Bulimia is an eating problem which makes people want to eat a lot of food at once and then try to get rid of the food from their body in different ways. Bulimia can feel like it is too hard to change, but you can get better and do not have to go through it alone.

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What is bulimia?

People who have bulimia eat lots of food at once and then get rid of the food. This could be by throwing up, using laxatives or doing a lot of exercise. Bulimia is a mental health illness which often makes people feel like they don’t have control over their eating.

This is called binging and purging. And often the more times people with bulimia binge eat, the more they want to purge. It can be a cycle.

Everyone’s different. But many people who have bulimia have low self-esteem or don’t think they’re good enough. Some people think they need to change their weight or shape to be liked. If you feel like this, Childline is always here to support you.

Things to remember:

  • anyone could have bulimia
  • stress or pressure can make it feel worse without the right support
  • bulimia is a serious eating disorder and mental health condition, but you can recover
  • there are other ways to cope and Childline can help you get the support you need and deserve.  

Signs of bulimia

Some of the main signs of bulimia include:

  • feeling in a cycle of bingeing and purging, for example by using laxatives or making yourself sick
  • leaving the room to go to the bathroom straight after eating
  • wanting to change your weight or shape
  • exercising a lot or feeling like you have to exercise
  • feeling the need to eat a lot, even if you’re not hungry
  • having a list of food you’re ‘not allowed’ to eat
  • buying food and hiding it
  • feeling depressed or anxious (especially at meal times)
  • feeling guilty or ashamed
  • changes in weight. 

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ANYTHING
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Get support if you're struggling with bulimia

RECOVERING FROM BULIMIA

When things are difficult at home, school or with friends, bulimia can feel like a way to cope or release the pressure you are feeling. But it can harm your body and mind and feel like it is taking over. 

Things you can try: 

  • Write down your feelings
    Especially the way you feel about food. Try using a diary or starting a journal.
  • Get support
    You do not have to recover on your own. Talk about what’s happening, and remember it’s okay to say if you relapse. Using our conversation starter can make it easier.  
  • Find distractions
    Think of activities to do just after eating to help make sure you don’t make yourself sick. It could be chatting to a friend. It could be playing a game. Whatever works for you.
  • Plan ahead
    Think about what you want to say to yourself when you have the urge to make yourself sick. You could write it down and carry it with you.
  • Be positive
    Write down a list of things you like about yourself. Start with really small things. As you start thinking about it you might start to notice more positive things about who you are.
  • Avoid negative communities
    Stay away from communities or social media that promote bulimia and other eating difficulties. Find out more about feeling good on social media.
  • Set goals
    Set yourself healthy goals and celebrate your achievements.
  • Try something new
    It doesn’t matter if it’s small, doing something new can help you believe in yourself. Check out our hobbies and interests message board for ideas.

Recovering from an eating disorder

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Getting support with bulimia

Getting support is the best way to recover. Trying to cover up what’s going on could make you feel more alone, but talking can really help.

Getting professional help from a doctor or counsellor is also really important. 

How bulimia starts

Lots of people who have bulimia feel bad about themselves. They could be having a difficult time at school or at home. If your life is full of pressure and stress, bulimia can feel like a way of coping.

Bulimia could start because of a mixture of different problems, for example:

These are some of the ways bulimia can start or get worse – without help, it can feel like it’s getting out of control. Talk to a Childline counsellor about what’s happening. It can help things start to get better.

Making yourself sick is  dangerous

Forcing yourself to be sick is bad for your body. Doing it again and again can be really dangerous.

Making yourself throw up a lot can cause:

  • tooth decay
  • bad breath
  • a sore throat
  • damage to the lining of your stomach
  • sores on your fingers.

Being sick a lot also means your body isn’t getting enough nutrients to stay healthy. This could make your hair and skin get dry and damaged. You could also get tired and weak and might even have heart problems. 

Helping a friend with bulimia

It can be hard to help your friend if they have bulimia. People with bulimia sometimes get secretive. They might shut you out.

But you can still help them. Be supportive and don’t judge them. Knowing you’re there to help could mean a lot to your friend.

Help them take their mind off things by doing something together that you enjoy. You could go for a walk or go to the cinema, for example.

It’s also a really good idea to think of activities you can do with your friend after meal times. This can distract them so they don’t try to make themselves sick.

Try to compliment your friend on their personality rather than their appearance. This can really help them over time.

Find out more about helping a friend.

Other sites we recommend: 

  • Beat has lots of support for young people experiencing eating problems, including a helpline
  • YoungMinds has more advice to help with eating disorders.