mental health disorders
Bulimia Nervosa
Diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa
A doctor's evaluation Doctors diagnose bulimia nervosa when people, particularly young women, do the following: Report binge eating at least once a week for 3 months or more Feel out of control during and after the binge Compensate for the binges by purging (for example, by making themselves vomit or using laxatives), by fasting, or by exercising excessively Express marked concern about weight gain and base their self-image largely on weight and body shape Doctors also check for other clues that support the diagnosis of bulimia nervosa: Wide fluctuations in weight, especially if there are clues suggesting excessive laxative use (such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps) Swollen salivary glands in the cheeks Scars on the knuckles from using the fingers to induce vomiting Erosion of tooth enamel from stomach acid A low level of potassium detected by a blood test 