Symptoms of Bulimia

According to The National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 10 million people suffer from eating disorders. With that figure at our fingertips it seems more important than ever to learn to recognize the signs of bulimia.

Bulimia, diagnosed as a separate eating disorder in the 1980s, is primarily a female disease. As such, it affects about nine million females, and also has found its way into the minds and lifestyles of approximately one million males.

Who is at risk for becoming bulimic?

Anyone who feels the pressure to have a perfect body is at risk. As rail thin models and the current Hollywood “It Girls” continue to be given top billing on magazines, TV, movies, and the Internet, pressure to match that look is placed on every young female in the United States, and on many of the young men. Additionally, if one person in a family is bulimic, the chance of another individual from the same family becoming bulimic rises significantly. (It must also be noted that bulimia has more to do with psychological issues and feelings of lack of control than it has to do with food.)

While it is not known what exactly causes bulimia, it is thought to center around a genetic fault in which abnormal levels of serotonin – a chemical in the brain used during emotional stress or social pressure – is released. This abnormal release is due in part to cultural changes and stress.

Individuals who suffer from this disease are recurrent binge eaters (eat to excess) who then purge, (vomit or take laxatives or ingest tapeworms), to prevent gaining weight. In the process of starving their body, considerable damage is done to their internal organs. While there is no medical cure for bulimia, it can be treated through counseling and behavioral therapy. Of those women who have been treated for bulimia, about 75 percent have had a full recovery.

Signs of Bulimia include but are not limited to:

• Distorted body image (thinking they are fat when they are not, needing or wanting to be extremely thin)
• Excessive eating or “binge” eating
• Purging (vomiting or using laxatives)
• Frequent use of the bathroom
• Vomiting often and sometimes vomiting blood
• Fasting or very strict regimented diets
• Excessive exercise (often vigorous and done secretively or while a child is supposed to be asleep)
• Using laxatives or diuretics
• Depression and mood swings
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Constipation and bloating or indigestion
• Dental problems, gum infection, and bloodshot eyes (from vomiting)
• Sore throat and swollen glands, often accompanied by a puffy face
• Weight loss and exhaustion
• Uncontrolled vomiting following a meal (this is the body’s trained reaction to continuous vomiting)

Another sign that may be overlooked is scrapes on the knuckles and fingers, which can be caused when fingers are thrust down the throat and become scraped from being dragged across the teeth, in an attempt to induce vomiting. Exhaustion and fatigue can also be signs of bulimia.

Some of the Health Issues Bulimia Can Cause Include:

• Anemia
• Anxiety, dizziness, low self-esteem and depression
• Irregular heart beat, weakened heart muscles, low pulse and blood pressure, and heart failure
• Bloating, diarrhea, cramps, constipation
• Tears and or ruptures in the throat and esophagus
• Dry skin and abrasions on knuckles
• Ulcers
• Cavities from tooth enamel erosion, sensitivity to hot and cold, gum disease
• Menstruation cessation and lack of ovulation (which can lead to difficulty getting pregnant)

Because bulimics are often of normal weight or may even be overweight, they do not always look like they have an eating disorder or life-threatening disease. Upon closer inspection, however, it is not that difficult to recognize signs of bulimia if you know what to look for. Education is the key to catching this disease before it is too late.

Helen Kay Polaski

Helen is an author, freelance writer, and book editor. Her work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites, and anthology books.