Bulimia: How to Know If You're Bulimic

Bulimia has several similarities with Anorexia Nervosa in that sufferers often have low self - esteem and their actions usually stem from an inordinate need to gain a sense of control. What is typical with Bulimics is the process of constant "binging and purging". Read on to know more about the signs in behavior commonly found among bulimics.

1. Bathroom Visits - bulimics often make trips to the bathroom (especially after meals). They turn on running water and usually pretend to be washing their hands for a long time to conceal the sounds of vomiting.

2. Physical symptoms - bulimics can show physical signs on their bodies such as light bruising under the eyes and cheeks, eyes may also look bloodshot, and knuckles may be bruised or calloused. Hair loss and pale skin are also apparent.

3. Diet pills/Laxatives - if you happen to find these in your daughter's or friend's possession and you suspect them to be suffering from Bulimia, it should trigger alarm bells. Talk to them about it, and encourage them to seek professional help.

4. An onset of various health problems - Bulimia can cause several other health problems such as constipation, skipping menstrual periods, low blood pressure, frequently feeling cold, frequent occurrence of sore throat, dizziness, and headaches.

5. Making negative statements about themselves - this is pretty common among anorexics and bulimics. They often have low self - worth and express it openly. They make comments like being "too fat" or "too ugly". They place great importance on the acceptance and approval of other people.

6. Isolation - for fear that their secret condition might be found out, bulimics often avoid being in groups especially when there is eating involved.

7. Reading Books and Magazines on Weight Loss - bulimics usually develop a strong fixation over weight loss and try to gather all material they can find on the topic - books, magazines, and even visiting websites that promote unhealthy ways of losing weight. They also seem to enjoy discussing it more frequently than most people.

8. Unusual eating behavior - this includes picking and cutting on their food a lot, trying to make it look like it's been eaten, sometimes even stealthily dropping food on a napkin placed on their lap, for the food to be thrown away later.

9. Keeping food journals - bulimics like to make a record of foods they have eaten, as well as taking note of how many calories they have consumed in a day. Sometimes these diaries contain lists as obsessive as how many times they have exercised or how many times they have vomited in a day.

10. Hiding food - bulimics like to keep foods in hidden places where they can conveniently be accessed during times when they like to binge.

If you've observed someone in your family or your friends displaying some of the behaviors mentioned above, you should see this as a call for help. Ask the advice of health experts or doctors on how you can encourage this person to admit their problem and seek professional help. Signs of an eating disorder should not be ignored. This is a condition that needs to be detected early on, before the individual suffering from these symptoms gets too comfortable with the destructive cycle he/she is inflicting upon himself/herself.