Bulimia nervosa is two eating disorder variants where people eat far more than is usual and then use measures to get rid of food quickly. Most people are familiar with the binge and purge type, which means people eat excessively and then induce vomiting or use laxatives and fasting. A non-purge type exists, where people fast for long periods of time or over-exercise to make up for binge episodes. It isn’t always easy to identify symptoms of bulimia because the behavior may be secretive and weight doesn’t necessarily drop. Active bulimics are best able to determine if they have this condition by assessing personal behavior, but medical examination or parent watchfulness doesn’t always catch it.
For those concerned about whether they showing the symptoms of bulimia there are several potential signs. The first of these, no matter what variant, is poor body image. Second is inability to control eating, at times. The amount eaten, often during periods of high emotion, exceeds what people would normally eat, and a bulimic can be surprised and disturbed by how much is consumed in one sitting, usually defined as period of two hours or less.
Excess consumptions produces anxiety and guilt, and another of the symptoms of bulimia is strong desire to get rid of food consumed, which may lead to inducing vomiting or abuse of laxatives. Other bulimics do not make a habit of throwing up or using laxatives, but they punish themselves by fasting for days or longer. These habits don’t necessarily change weight levels, though some severe bulimics do not binge that frequently and end up using laxatives or purging so much their bodies get little nutrition and they do lose weight. Alternately, fast periods are extremely excessive and cause rapid shed of weight.
There may be some medical symptoms of bulimia, but these aren’t always identical. Sometimes induction of vomiting that is regular results in teeth deterioration, as acid from the stomach is repeatedly in contact with the teeth. Abuse of laxatives might also be suspected if there is strong evidence of malnutrition, and extreme weight loss ought to be investigated as a potential symptom of an eating disorder.
On the home front, parents or others could look for disappearance of a lot of food, especially if this occurs often. Children or young adults should not use laxatives, and any signs they are being used is suggestive. Long periods in the bathroom directly after meals, especially with privacy measures taken like running the water or using bathroom fans might also be suspect. The other symptoms of bulimia that might be present are weight loss and constant negative statements about body image.
If symptoms of bulimia are present, it’s important to take action. There are many ways to address eating disorders, and to intervene and get someone assistance. It can take time to treat this condition, though, and the biggest obstacle to treatment may be the person suffering from the illness.
