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Step 1
Talk to a doctor about getting a complete blood analysis. If you have a son or daughter who you believe may be bulimic, you may be able to have the doctor perform the blood work under the guise of a routine physical exam. This approach could work for you if you can't speak to your child about your fear of his bulimia.
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Step 2
Examine the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Bulimia can cause various kinds of anemia, which can be seen as a deficiency of one or more type of cell. All the tests can be usually be done with a single sample of the patient's blood.
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Step 3
Look at the body's iron and folic acid stores to be sure anemia isn't caused by a deficiency. People with bulimia often have low iron levels because their bodies do not have enough time to pull and process nutrients from food.
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Step 4
Use a second blood sample to detect for electrolyte and protein deficiencies that can result from bulimia. These tests are a bit more specialized than blood cell counts, so you may need to have them done at a hospital. The combination of a blood cell examination and analysis of the body's mineral stores and protein levels should be enough for a doctor to diagnose bulimia and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms.
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Step 5
Get help for bulimia, whether you or your loved one are diagnosed with it. Blood tests may provide the scientific backing that a bulimic person needs to face the facts of her condition. Treatment typically involves a direct approach to correct any nutritional problems, like vitamin deficiencies, and psychological treatment to cope with the emotional effects and causes of the eating disorder.
