
Dr Divina Pillay
Consultant Psychiatrist
Although the average age of onset for bulimia nervosa is 18-19 years old, it can affect people of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Bulimia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by purging through self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives, fasting, or excessive exercise.
Bulimia is one of the most common forms of eating disorders, with data from BEAT suggesting that 40% of people affected by disordered eating suffer from bulimia nervosa.
At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, we recognise that living with an eating disorder can be extremely challenging. The important thing to remember is that you are not alone and that expert help is available if you or someone you know may be suffering from an eating issue.
We've been treating a whole spectrum of eating disorders and mental health conditions for more than 37 years at Schoen Clinic. We're dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted by eating disorders and our expertise has earned us recognition as leaders in the fields of clinical research and innovative treatments, and we were named the LaingBuisson Hospital Group of the Year 2020.
Our adult eating disorder specialists in London have extensive experience in helping individuals to recover from bulimia. Patients at our private bulimia treatment centre in Chelsea, West London, have access to a range of interventions to support bulimia recovery, from specialist bulimia therapy to one-to-one counselling for bulimia, dietetic meal support and more.
At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, our specialist bulimia therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team that places patients at the very heart of their care. We also offer a range of group therapies for self-funding patients wanting a fast route into therapy.
To get started with private treatment, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire any time to suit you.
Where a diagnosis of bulimia has not already been made by a GP, Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) team, or another healthcare professional, our bulimia specialists in London are available to help and offer fast private assessments for adults with suspected bulimia.
Diagnosing bulimia nervosa in adults can be complicated and requires a careful assessment by one of our highly skilled clinical team. Our bulimia experts rely on a combination of clinical judgement and diagnostic criteria as outlined by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Recurrent episodes of binge eating - consuming large amounts of food in a short period of time (usually less than 2 hours) and feeling a lack of control over the eating during the episode
Recurrent compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain - purging (vomiting or using laxatives), fasting or exercising excessively
These behaviours occur on average at least once a week for 3 months
The binge eating and compensatory behaviours cause significant distress and interfere with daily functioning
The individual's self-evaluation and self-worth is excessively influenced by weight and shape
The symptoms are not solely due to another medical condition or substance misuse.
To accurately diagnose bulimia in adults, our specialist team takes multiple factors into account, including medical history, physical symptoms, and psychological behaviour.
To get started with private treatment, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire any time to suit you.
Our bulimia specialists in London conduct an in-depth psychological evaluation that includes a thorough history in order to diagnose bulimia. Additionally, they will enquire about their eating patterns, eating attitudes, body size, and shape, as well as any additional physical or mental health issues that might be causing or exacerbating the symptoms.
To rule out medical conditions that can resemble the symptoms of bulimia, extra laboratory tests or imaging scans may in some circumstances be prescribed.
Once a diagnosis of bulimia is made, our experienced team will initiate appropriate treatment as soon as possible.
Depending on the severity, our adult bulimia treatment at Schoen Clinic Chelsea often entails a combination of psychotherapy, medication, and dietary advice all carried out at our private outpatient bulimia clinic in London.
Bulimia can have serious effects on a person's physical and mental health, and early identification and treatment can help prevent these effects while improving the patient's overall quality of life. We offer extensive bulimia treatment at Schoen Clinic Chelsea, which includes counselling, therapy, social interaction, medical care, and family involvement. With the help of our bulimia specialists in London, adults with bulimia can recover and strive to lead happy, healthy lives.
Parents and families play a vital role in the treatment of bulimia. Please get in touch with our team right away if you suspect that you or your child has bulimia to begin our highly specialised treatment as soon as possible. Our bulimia treatment centre in London welcomes adults over the age of 18, and we also offer specialised bulimia treatment for children and teens as well. Our bulimia specialists can recognise the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and development of a customised treatment plan if bulimia has not yet been diagnosed.
We understand that each person is unique and that many factors could lead to an adult developing bulimia. As a result, we personalise our bulimia treatment for every individual.
Typical treatment for bulimia at Schoen Clinic Chelsea includes:
To get started with private treatment, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire any time to suit you.
The overall goal of the treatment of adults with bulimia at Schoen Clinic Chelsea is to help them learn how to eat normally and express their emotions in more constructive ways.
Our mission is to give each patient the best specialised care possible, allowing them to feel better and recover faster. Our goal at Schoen Clinic Chelsea is to assist patients to get back to their regular lives as soon as possible, which is why we tailor our bulimia therapies to match the needs of each patient.
After consultation with our highly experienced team of bulimia specialists, all programme components can be modified to meet specific needs, and an initial treatment plan will be decided upon before any treatment begins.
Regulated weight restoration (if appropriate) is paired with cognitive therapies that emphasise psychological growth throughout the duration of treatment .
The cornerstone of our bulimia treatment at Schoen Clinic Chelsea is psychotherapy.
The primary goal of psychotherapy is to address the underlying psychological problems that drive the development of bulimia in adults. Psychotherapies like Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Psychodynamic Therapy have all been proven to be successful in treating bulimia.
The most prominent therapy for treating bulimia is CBT. It focuses on teaching patients how to spot unfavourable thoughts and beliefs that drive their actions and how to swap them out for wholesome, constructive ones.
At our bulimia treatment facility in London, we also offer nutritional therapy, where patients work with a dietitian to create a healthy eating schedule. This is a crucial part of our bulimia treatment in Chelsea because many sufferers of bulimia have poor nutrition and may have trouble organising balanced meals.
To provide an additional degree of support and motivation for individuals recovering from bulimia, our adult bulimia specialists at Schoen Clinic Chelsea also provide a number of group therapies and support groups.
To support the recovery of adults with bulimia, our private outpatient bulimia centre in London offers:
Our extensive multidisciplinary team is responsible for providing highly specialised care for adults receiving bulimia treatment at our outpatient clinic in London. The team consists of:
Our MDT works together to ensure that each patient receiving treatment achieves the best possible outcome. They have a wealth of experience treating people with bulimia.
"Our daughter’s journey definitely hasn't been an easy one. We’ve had many bumps along the way, but she’s made amazing progress and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support and care of the clinic."
Although our adult bulimia treatment centre is in West London, we accept patients from all across the UK for specialised bulimia therapy. Due to our reputation for offering highly specific treatment for eating disorders, particularly bulimia nervosa, we regularly see patients from outside the nearby area.
We're a part of Schoen Clinic UK Group, a renowned hospital group with a focus on the treatment of eating disorders and mental health problems. Schoen Clinic also has a highly specialised children's and adolescent hospital in Birmingham, in addition to our leading eating disorders hospital for adults in York.
For the benefit of each individual patient, our bulimia specialists in London collaborate as a multidisciplinary team. Our experts, who include consultant psychiatrists, eating disorder specialists, psychotherapists, psychologists, and dietitians, have a extensive expertise in treating adult bulimia and work closely with you to guarantee the best possible outcome from treatment.
Consultant Psychiatrist
Dietitian
Psychotherapist
Our caring team of adult eating disorder specialists in London are on hand to help adults with bulimia access the treatment they need.
To get started with private treatment, simply fill out our online pre-screening questionnaire any time to suit you.