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Bulimia Prognosis and Possible Complications

Relapse is common in people with bulimia. Complications that can happen from repeated bingeing and purging include problems with the esophagus, stomach, heart, lungs, muscles, or pancreas. Suicidal individuals or those with severe symptoms may need to be hospitalized to prevent further complications. Pregnancy may be difficult emotionally for women with bulimia because of the changes in body shape that occur. Poor nutritional health of the mother may also have a negative impact on the unborn child. Women who have stopped menstruating because of bulimia will be unable to become pregnant.

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Following Up

Since bulimia is usually a long-term disease, the person's weight, exercise habits, and physical and mental health need to be checked periodically by a healthcare provider.

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Supporting Research

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 4th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 1994.

Becker AE, Grinspoon SK, Klibanski A, Herzog DB. Current concepts: eating disorders. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:1092-1098.

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:107, 156-157, 160, 172, 180, 214-215.

Dambro MR, ed. Griffith's 5 Minute Clinical Consult. Baltimore, Md: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:160-161.

Esplen MJ, Garfinkel PE, Olmsted M, Gallop RM, Kennedy S. A randomized controlled trial of guided imagery in bulimia nervosa. Psychol Med. 1998;28(6):1347-1357.

Feldman M, ed. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 1998.

Field T, Schanberg S, Kuhn C, et al. Bulimic adolescents benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence. 1998;33(131):555-563.

Foster D. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 1998:462-465.

Goroll AH, ed. Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven Publishers; 1995.

Hamilton EM, Gropper SA. The Biochemistry of Human Nutrition: A Desk Reference. New York, NY: West Publishing Company; 1987:278-279.

Kaplan HW, ed. Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 6th ed. Baltimore, Md: Williams & Wilkins; 1995.

Laessle RG, Beumont PJV, Butow P, et al. A comparison of nutritional management with stress management in the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Br J Psychiatry. 1991;159:250-261.

McClain CJ, Humphries LL, Hill KK, Nickl NJ. Gastrointestinal and nutritional aspects of eating disorders. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993;12(4):466-474.

Mooney J. Management of eating disorders. J Naturopathic Med. 1997;7(1):114-118.

Pop-Jordanova N. Psychological characteristics and biofeedback mitigation in preadolescents with eating disorders. Pediatr Int. 2000;42:76-81.

Rakel RE, ed. Conn's Current Therapy. 51st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 1999.

Schauss A, Costin C. Zinc as a nutrient in the treatment of eating disorders. Am J Nat Med. 1997;4(10):8-13.

Smith KA, Fairburn CG, Cowen PJ. Symptomatic relapse in bulimia nervosa following acute tryptophan depletion. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1999;56:171-176.

Ullman D. The Consumer's Guide to Homeopathy. New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam; 1995.

Wilson JD, ed. Williams Textbook of Endrocrinology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders; 1998.

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Reviewed: 03/2006