"Bulimia is an eating disorder and mental health condition.

People who have bulimia go through periods where they eat a lot of food in a very short amount of time (binge eating) and then purge the food from their body to try to stop themselves gaining weight.

Purging could include making themselves vomit, using laxatives (medicine to help them poo) or diuretics (medicine that makes you pee more), fasting or doing excessive exercise, or a combination of these.

Anyone can get bulimia, but it is more common in young people aged 15 to 25."

Taken from www.nhs.uk

"Symptoms of bulimia include:

- Eating very large amounts of food in a short time, often in an out-of-control way (this is called binge eating).

- Making yourself vomit, using laxatives or diuretics, fasting, or doing an extreme amount of exercise after a binge to avoid putting on weight (this is called purging).

- Fear of putting on weight.

- Being very critical about your weight and body shape.

- Mood changes eg. feeling very tense or anxious.

These symptoms may not be easy to spot in someone else because bulimia can make people behave very secretively."

Taken from www.nhs.uk

"Getting help and support as soon as possible gives you the best chance of recovering from bulimia.

If you think you may have bulimia, see a GP as soon as you can.

They'll ask you questions about your eating habits and how you're feeling, and will check your overall health and weight.

If they think you may have bulimia or another eating disorder, they should refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists.

It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment.

You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from the eating disorders charity Beat by calling their helpline on 0808 801 0677.

You can recover from bulimia, but it may take time and recovery will be different for everyone.

Your treatment plan will be tailored to you and should take into account any other support you might need, such as for depression or anxiety.

If you're over 18, you'll probably be offered a guided self-help programme. This involves working through a self-help book or online programme, and often includes keeping a diary and making a plan for your meals.

You'll be supported by a therapist during this process. You may also be offered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

If you're under 18, you may be offered family therapy or CBT. This may be offered through your local children and young people's mental health services."

Taken from www.nhs.uk