How to Identify the Signs of a Bulimic

Bulimia is one of many serious eating disorders that is sometimes goes unrecognized, by family and friends. This disorder cause the victim to think 24/7 about food, bathrooms, laxatives, bingeing, purging, excessive exercising or fasting. These binge eaters will sometimes gorge late at night, and possibly go to 2 or 3 different grocery stores so the checkers won't suspect what they're doing. Then because of their shame, they'll replace the food in the refrdigerator, so nobody will suspect what they've eaten in secret.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Notice their knuckles, do they look like they've been cut or bleeding
• Notice if they make quick retreats to preferably private bathrooms during a meal or right after a meal.
• Do they seem to have obsessive rituals with food or exercise
• Do you notice they keep diurectics, or ex-lax in their purse
• Do they buy syrup of ipecac
• Do they have dental problems

1. 
    

   Bulimia is most prevalent in young and middle aged women. Society's obsession with weight has affected women (and men) deeply. This compulsion to rid themselves of the calories or foods they have just eaten is a risk to their long term health as well as having severe side effects. By constantly binging and purging and using laxative these women are jeopardizing their health by causing serious imbalances in their bodies electrolytes putting their hearts and other body organs in serious danger. A number one sign, is if someone leaves a meal right after it's done or even between courses, to use the 'restroom'. Usually they excuse themselves by saying the food didn't agree with them or they have the flu.

2. 
    

   Did you happen to notice when they emerged from the bathroom if their knuckles were scraped or grazed? Another sign of a purger. They probably will have watery eyes, and sometimes attribute this to problems with their contact lens. Their cheeks may look blotchy, another sign, and you may hear running water to disguise the sound of them vomiting.

3. Other signs are that their trash cans or handbags have empty boxes of laxatives, or diuretics. They buy large quantities of syrup of ipecac,something a pharmacist may notice. This is used to induce vomiting in young children who may have ingested something dangerous. Does your friend exercise compulsively? Healthy exercising is what we need to do, but not an excessive amount.

4. Within the first six months of this behavior bulimics begin to lose enamel on their teeth, and many times their dentists are the first care health professionals to recognize these signs. They develop a need for root canals, cavities and other dental problems, caused by the acid coming back up their throat when they vomit. Also, they develop problems with their esophagus, like GERD.

5. 
    

   Those vulnerable to this eating disorder are people faced with tremendous pressures to stay thin. Some professions are models, gymnasts, runners, wrestlers,jockeys, actors and ballet dancers. Jane Fonda, Princess Diana, Lindsay Lohan, even Billy Bob Thornton have struggled with or admitted to having an eating disorder. These are just a few examples of people who admitted they battle these disorders. We need to identify these signs in our friends and family members before they die because of this compulsion and obsession with weight and body image.

Tips & Warnings

• Some bulimics may not menstruate at all because of altering their hormonal cycle. This leads to not being able to conceive children
• Bulimics usually suffer in silence, ashamed to admit or get help, so they isolate themselves from their family and friends.
• Overeater's Anonymous is a great support group to join
• There are studies that show bulimics have more than one addition, the most common alcohol.

Resources

• 10 Ways to Spot A Bulimic
• Help Guide, Bulimia Nervosa

[writelikecrazy]

on 4/24/2009 My best friend is bulimic and its all very true. Good advice on how to identify bulimia 5*

[xtraordinary]

on 4/9/2009 I had a friend who was bulimic in junior high - excellent article. 5 stars!

[djackman]

on 4/6/2009 good thing to know 5Good thing to know 5*

[kittykat3]

on 3/17/2009 This is a very well written article. 5*****

[stndgfrm]

on 3/13/2009 Thank you! I hope that if this article helps even 1 person it will be well worth it!I had a niece who started to purge but I caught it in time and told her parents about it.I have a friend who's friend isin a nursing home and was on life support for a time because of the devastating effects on her body.