Recognising the Symptoms of Bulimia

The symptoms of bulimia can be very serious, both for the physical and mental well being of the sufferer. The causes of the condition are varied and usually there is more than one reason why a person would begin a cycle of binge eating and then purging. These can vary from depression, low self-esteem and an unrealistic view of their body.

Binging and Purging Symptoms

• Eating a large quantity of food is a common symptom of bulimia. Often the food is high in calories or sugar. A person may begin a period of binge eating as a form of comfort, but this is easy to get out of control.
• A further symptom of bulimia is to purge the food from the body, often by vomiting. A sufferer may also use laxatives to rid the body of the food as soon as possible. Eating a large amount can make a person feel bloated, unattractive and guilty about their over-consumption.  A sufferer of bulimia may also use other methods to burn off calories quickly including taking amphetamines, diet pills or excessive exercise.

Other Physical Symptoms of Bulimia

• A symptom that family and friends may notice is the person leaving the room to go to the bathroom after eating a meal in order to vomit. Other physical symptoms of a bulimia sufferer can become quite serious as cycles of over eating and starvation can damage the kidneys, stomach and other major organs. Low blood pressure caused by periods of starvation can also cause heart problems.
• It is common for someone suffering from bulimia to have dental problems and often lose teeth. This is caused by the stomach acid that is continuously brought up into the mouth. A bulimia sufferer may also have knuckle and finger damage from forcing their hands or fingers into their throats to induce vomiting.

Psychological Symptoms of Bulimia

• If the body is starving, this can have a direct effect on how the brain functions. Starvation can cause depression, stress and self-loathing. All these things that can directly start a cycle of binge eating and purging. They will also have a warped view of how their body looks.
• One of the other psychological symptoms of bulimia is a complete obsession with food, a sufferer will sometimes even meticulously plan which items to binge on. This obsession is a type of obsessive compulsive disorder.