Home Care:

Take steps to reduce your stress and improve your overall health.

Medication is usually not needed for this disorder. However, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants.

Supportive care and counseling are recommended. Individual, group, family, and behavioral therapy may help.

Call your health care provider if:

Call your health care provider if you think you might have bulimia.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The health care provider will perform a physical examination. The doctor may ask one or more of your family members for a history of your eating patterns if you do not acknowledge that you are binge eating.

The health care provider may ask the following medical history questions:

• How long has this been occurring?
• Are you also "purging" (such as forcing yourself to vomit or abusing laxatives)?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Possible diagnostic tests include blood studies, such as electrolyte levels.

INTERVENTION

Behavior is usually controlled with:

• Biofeedback training
• Counseling
• Individual or group psychotherapy