What Are The Symptoms of Bulimia?

Bulimia is an eating disorder. People with bulimia usually have a normal weight, but perceive themselves to be fat. Or they may feel intense guilt or self-disgust when they eat. These feelings are so strong that people with bulimia throw up much of the food they eat. Though men and women both can develop bulimia, 90 percent of people with bulimia are women. For most, bulimia begins in the teens, a few years after puberty begins. Many people with bulimia are perfectionists or overachievers.

Bulimia is identified by two characteristic behaviors: bingeing and purging. In a binge, a person eats more than 1,000 calories, which is close to half the number of calories a typical person needs in a day. But to a person with bulimia, a binge may be eating a piece of cake. People with bulimia often binge on comfort foods like potato chips, cake, or cookies. But after eating the food, the person is filled with guilt and shame. The person with bulimia then purges him or herself by inducing vomiting, excessively exercising, or by using laxatives.

A person in a binge-and-purge cycle will eat lots of food at one time. A binge may be secret or planned. It could begin suddenly, cascading just from a bite of food. Some people binge once a day; others may binge several times a day. After eating, a person with bulimia will often go to the bathroom for several minutes to vomit up the food. He or she might abuse laxatives or diuretics, or exercise constantly. A person with bulimia is overly concerned about weight and appearance.

Constant vomiting burns the esophagus, mouth, and teeth with stomach acid. Many people with bulimia have symptoms like gum infections, heartburn, or swollen salivary glands from the stomach acid. Their teeth lose some of their enamel or get cavities. People with bulimia may also be constipated.

Bingeing and purging is not healthy, and, as a result, many people with bulimia are malnourished. They may be dehydrated and have low electrolytes. Many people with bulimia have dry skin and brittle nails. Most seriously, when blood potassium levels drop severely, can prove fatal.

Bulimia may also be tied to self-esteem problems, stress, or depression. Bulimia is completely treatable, but requires professional help and support to break the bingeing-and-purging cycles.