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What are the symptoms of bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa, also known as bulimia, is a severe, life-threatening mental illness and eating disorder. Individuals with bulimia are often engaged in a cycle of bingeing followed by purging. Bingeing, or binge eating, is consumption of large quantities of food in one sitting. Purging, on the other hand, is getting rid of excessive calories in an unhealthy way.

It arises from the guilt of overeating and trying inappropriate ways to reduce weight such as self-induced vomiting, fasting, using excessive amounts of laxatives and diuretics, and compulsive exercising.

If you are suffering from bulimia, you are probably secretly bingeing and purging. You feel ashamed of yourself for bingeing and later feel much relieved once you have purged it out. Bulimia can be fatal but with effective treatment you can feel better about yourself and reverse unwanted serious complications. Meet your doctor and seek assistance before it is too late.

Signs and symptoms:

Signs and symptoms of bulimia may be divided into physical symptoms, behavioral and emotional symptoms.

Physical symptoms:

Noticeable weight fluctuations
Complaints of non-specific gastrointestinal problems such as stomach cramps, constipation and acid reflux
Smell of vomit in the breath
Abnormal lab findings such as anemia, low blood pressure, low heart rate, low thyroid and hormone levels.
Unusual swelling of cheek and jaw area
Dizziness
Syncope
Severe dehydration
Dry skin
Dry and brittle nails
Lanugo
Calluses on the back of hands and knuckles due to self-induced vomiting ( also known as Russell’s sign)
Muscle weakness
Carotenosis
Discoloration of teeth
Poor wound healing
Impaired immune functions
Menstrual irregularities for women

Behavioral & Emotional symptoms:

Shows evidence of binge eating ( large amount of food disappears in a short period of time)
Frequent trips to the bathroom after a meal (evidence of purging)
Hoarding or stealing of food
Uncomfortable to eat around others or in the public
Often skips meals or takes meals in small portions
Excessive usage of mouthwash, mints and gums
Always distress about body weight and shape
Excessive consumption of water
Excessive exercising
Extreme mood swings

Risk factors:

Statistically, women are more likely to suffer from bulimia than men. Bulimia often begins around early adulthood. Risk factors of bulimia nervosa are divided into:

Biological factors:

Family history of eating disorders or bulimia nervosa
Family history of mental illness
Family history of substance abuse
Tendencies to impulsivity or to do something in the spur of the moment
Tendencies to binge eating
Neural sensitivity towards rewards, particularly towards food reward system

Psychological factors:

History of abuse or trauma
Prior mental health diagnosis
Always have negative body image or self image
Inability to exert control over their own emotions
Low self esteem
Depression
Tends to engage in a career or a hobby related to body appearances

Complications:

Bulimia may cause some serious and also life-threatening complications such as:

Erosion of tooth enamel due to constant exposure to stomach acid
Dental cavities and discoloration of teeth
Tooth sensitive towards hot or cold food
Gum infection
Inflamed throat
Stomach ulcers
Stomach or esophagus rupture
Dehydration, which leads to more serious medical problems such as kidney failure
Irregular heart beat
Heart attack, in severe cases
Have lower sex drives
Higher risks for self-injury and suicidal behavior

Prevention:

“Prevention is better than cure”. Although there are no perfect guidelines to prevent bulimia, you can steer yourself or even others towards a healthier lifestyle before the situation becomes worse.

Here are some ways to prevent bulimia in yourself: