Residential bulimia treatment

Bulimia nervosa is a serious but treatable eating disorder that affects many people of all ages, genders, ethnicities and backgrounds. 

Bulimia involves a cycle of binge eating followed by purging – attempts to get rid of the food’s calories through harmful behaviour such as vomiting, fasting, excessive exercise or laxative misuse. 

Treating bulimia involves exploring underlying thought patterns and breaking the binge-purge cycle, usually through therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and support groups. 

Residential bulimia treatment involves intensive care within a specialised facility and is appropriate for people who need 24-hour support to help them manage an eating disorder.

How bulimia is diagnosed

Seeking help for bulimia is an important and positive step towards recovery. 

To diagnose bulimia, a GP or eating disorder specialist will ask you some questions, carry out a physical examination, and may recommend tests to rule out other conditions. 

There’s no single test for bulimia and diagnosis isn’t based on weight or appearance. People with bulimia often maintain what seems to be a ‘normal’ weight, as the effects of bingeing and purging can offset each other. 

Diagnosis focuses on eating habits, purging behaviours like vomiting or excessive exercise, and thoughts around food and body image. These conversations help healthcare professionals understand your experience and offer the right support.

You might be asked things like:

Physical tests might include checking your vital signs, conducting blood tests or assessing any of the physical effects of bulimia.

Your GP, or a specialist provider can diagnose you with bulimia. At Priory, we offer free, same-day eating disorder assessments with Life Works, our specialist eating disorder service.

Treatment for bulimia – what to expect

Bulimia treatment is personalised and typically involves a multidisciplinary team, including therapists, dietitians and medical professionals. 

The treatment plan will depend on individual needs but generally includes:

• Therapy: psychological support to address underlying thoughts and behaviours
• Nutritional support: guidance from dietitians to establish healthy eating patterns
• Medical care: monitoring and managing any physical health complications

Bulimia treatment can take place in a range of settings.

• Inpatient treatment is advisable for severe cases of bulimia. As an inpatient, you’ll receive round-the-clock care in a hospital or specialist rehab centre. 
• Outpatient treatment is suitable for mild to moderate cases of bulimia. As an outpatient, you’ll live at home but participate in regular therapy sessions, usually taking place once a week. 
• Day care offers intensive support for a set number of full or half days each week, but you’ll return home at night.

Types of therapy used in bulimia treatment

There are three main types of therapy used in bulimia treatment.

The role of nutrition and medication

Nutritional support is a key aspect of treatment. Specialist dietitians will work with you to identify and manage food-related triggers and reduce restrictive eating patterns that lead to bingeing. Treatment outcomes include establishing regular eating times and devising balanced meals. 

Medication can be beneficial in bulimia treatment because of the relationship between mood and behaviour in eating disorder sufferers. 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be prescribed to reduce bingeing and purging urges, as well as treat any co-existing mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Medications are used to help reduce any symptoms that are affecting your day-to-day life. They help you to feel well enough to engage in treatments, such as therapy sessions, that deliver lasting recovery.

Coping with bulimia: practical advice and self-care

Taking care of yourself when you’re suffering with bulimia can help you to get better more quickly. Self-care exercises can improve your mental health and empower you during the treatment process.

It’s important to avoid trigger behaviours such as weighing yourself frequently, isolating yourself or engaging in restrictive dieting.

The following tips are some of the practical ways you can look after yourself before, during and after treatment.

• Follow a structured meal plan
• Practise self-compassion to build self-esteem
• Distract yourself from urges through journaling, exercise or your hobbies
• Seek peer support via organisations like Beat and engage with the eating disorder community
• Practise mindfulness techniques, like meditation, to help keep stress levels as low as possible
• Support yourself when food shopping by planning ahead. Making a list, visiting smaller shops, and choosing quieter times can help make the experience feel more manageable. You might also find it helpful to shop online, or go with a loved one or friend

Getting treatment early is an important act of self-care. Left untreated, bulimia can lead to serious physical complications such as dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, heart problems, digestive issues, and damage to the throat and teeth caused by repeated purging.

Taking the first step: how to get help

Seeking help early increases your chances of recovery. You don’t need to be at crisis point to ask for support or to get access to treatment.

Speaking to a GP is a good first step as they can rule out any other possible conditions and refer you to an eating disorder specialist.

A private assessment can speed up the process - Priory offers a free, same-day assessment at Life Works, our specialist eating disorder service in Surrey.

If you want more information or to access support online, organisations like Beat offer specialist services offering guidance to sufferers of all types of eating disorders.

Take the first step towards recovery and get the help you need today.