Signs of Bulimia

Two major symptoms of bulimia – like anorexia nervosa and binge eating disorder – are negative body image and severely harsh perception of one’s physical flaws.  Bulimia differs from anorexia in that the person will binge on large quantities of food (as opposed to restricting consumption) before compensating for the binge; however, in contrast to binge eating disorder, individuals with bulimia will use a number of possible compensatory methods after bingeing.  People with bulimia will go through the binge–purge cycle at least a few times a week; some patients will do so multiple times in a single day.  Below are additional signs that a person may have this eating disorder.

• Gender – About 85-90% of people with bulimia are female; 10-15% are male.
• Bingeing – Signs of a binge may include large amounts of food missing from the refrigerator, food wrappers in the trash, and numerous pans and other food preparation utensils out of place.
• Rituals – The person may need to follow the same process of preparing (using the same knife) or consuming (always chewing a certain number of times) food.
• Body Weight in an Average Range – Whereas patients with anorexia may appear emaciated and those with binge eating disorder may be overweight, people with bulimia may appear to be an average body weight.
• Age – Although bulimia can occur at any point in a person’s life, the highest rate seems to be during ages 14 to 25.
• Exercise – A common method of compensation after a binge is extreme exercise.  The person may spend multiple hours at the gym.
• Restriction of Calories – Another possible way that someone with bulimia may try to make up for a binge is through calorie restriction for a period after the binge.
• Purging – Individuals with this disorder may also vomit after bingeing; they may excuse themselves to go to the bathroom immediately after eating at home or in a restaurant.  As a result of the frequent vomiting, they may have sustained damage to their hands and knuckles (calluses); they may complain of a sore throat from excessive exposure to stomach acids; and they may have decaying or discolored teeth also from stomach acid.  The salivary glands (jaw/neck area) may be swollen.
• Changes in Social Activities – Any sort of change – in combination with other symptoms – may suggest a problem.  Being more socially withdrawn and more focused on losing weight could indicate that bulimia is developing.
• Abuse of Laxatives or Diuretics – In an effort to shed as much weight as possible before stepping on the scale, a person who has bulimia may frequently induce bowel movements or urination through abuse of laxatives or diuretics.
• Dehydration – Frequent vomiting and the use of diuretic medications can also cause a person with bulimia to become dehydrated.
• Amenorrhea or Other Menstrual Irregularities – In females with bulimia, menstruation may stop or become irregular.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) Problems – The frequent bingeing and purging behavior could lead to GI issues such as acid reflux or general intestinal distress.
• Imbalance of Electrolytes – If levels of potassium, sodium, calcium or other minerals are too high or too low, the person may have a heart attack.