The Signs and Symptoms of Bulimia

Behavioural Signs

• Repeatedly avoiding meals
• Not wanting to eat what everyone else is having
• Saying “I’ll eat later”
• Eating meals but extremely restless after the meal as their anxiety grows
• Visits to the bathroom shortly after a meal (explaining its to have a bath or wash their hair)
• Dramatic fluctuations in weight
• Mysterious disappearance of food
• Evidence of binge eating: actual observation, verbal report, large amounts of food missing
• Discoveries of food wrappers under chair pillows, mattresses or in bedroom cupboards
• Continual overdrafts, debts and missing money. Inability to account for how the money was spent
• Frequent weighing
• Talking about new diets and expressing the desire to be thinner
• General dissatisfaction with appearance and figure. Expressing the wish to change
• Evidence of purging (vomiting, laxative/diuretic abuse, emetics, frequent fasting, excessive exercise)
• Impromptu walks (often to buy food)
• Night owl behaviour (so they can binge once everyone has gone to bed)
• Increasing isolation, disinterest in social activities, work and /or study
• General apathy and/or depressive outlook on life
• Moodiness, irritability, depression
• Low self esteem
• Oversensitive to criticism
• Shoplifting or stealing of food or money

Physical and Emotional Signs

Side effects of bingeing

• Abdominal swelling and pain
• Swelling of the hands, legs and feet
• Swelling of the salivary (Parotid) glands around the face and jawline
• Tiredness, nausea, breathlessness, dizziness
• A pre-disposition to dental decay and gum disease as a result of bingeing on sugary foods, also because of vomiting

Side effects of vomiting

• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can cause: sweating; irregular heartbeats; epileptic fits; convulsions; weakness; lethargy; mental confusion; irrational behaviour; anxiety; panic attack; feelings of hunger; and depression
• Mineral and Chemical Imbalance. Especially potassium and sodium are lost through vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse. It can cause: muscular weakness; bloated feeling; lethargy; tingling/numbness in fingers and toes; confusion; poor concentration; dehydration; irregular heartbeat; low blood pressure; kidney damage; and further mineral losses.
• Dental Problems. Loss of tooth enamel leading to tooth decay.
• Bleeding from the upper intestinal tract
• Lack of Protein
• Swollen salivary (parotid) glands

References
Barbara French. (1987). Coping with Bulimia: The Binge Purge Syndrome. United Kingdom. Thorsons.