Bulimia has been recognized for a much shorter time than Anorexia, and there is less research on its origins. One recent study found that Bulimic women differed from depressed and anxious women in several ways. They were more likely to be overweight, to have overweight parents and to have begun menstruating early. They were also more likely to say that their parents had high expectations for them with limited contract. Bulimia is often treated more successfully than Anorexia because Bulimic patients usually want to be treated.
Most antidepressant drugs relieve the symptoms, usually more quickly than they relieve depression.
The problem of Bulimia is closely related to the problem of obesity. Since almost all Bulimic women either are or may think they are overweight. Fortunately this illness can be successfully treated in most cases. More often Bulimic patients are given behavior therapy. One behavioral treatment for self-induced vomiting is exposure and response prevention.