How to Spot the Signs of Bulimia

Bulimics are expert at concealing their condition from those who love them. They have many tricks to make purging easy, or to hide from those close to them the fact that they are abusing food. In this article you'll learn how to spot the signs of bulimia, and then approach the bulimic with an offer of help.

First, you should be aware that bulimia affects both sexes, and all ages. It's not a condition confined to teenage girls. Often in adults it is accompanied by alcohol use, in fact, purging is often discovered as a means of feeling better from the experience of throwing up after heavy drinking.

Although part of the reason bulimics purge is to control their weight, they are often overweight. Don't rule out bulimia simply because a person seems to have a few pounds to lose. Signs of bulimia you can look for include marks on the knuckles - usually the dominant hand - caused by injury from the teeth as a finger is inserted down the bulimic's throat to trigger the vomiting reflex.

If the marks look like indentations from teeth, that's a sure sign of bulimia. Bulimia can damage the enamel of teeth but this is not something you'll observe in all bulimics, and it can be hard to detect in any event. Another sign of bulimia is bloodshot eyes as blood vessels in the eyes often burst during vomiting. Long-term bulimics may also develop red blotches on their face from breaking blood vessels.

These red blotches can last much longer than bloodshot eyes, although they will be most obvious immediately after a purging episode. Watch out for someone who always disappears after eating. If they run the water in the bathroom and flush the toilet repeatedly they may be trying to cover the noise of vomiting. But be aware that many bulimics have learned to vomit into a plastic bag in their room or some other private place. If they vanish regularly after eating they may be purging even if they're not in the bathroom.

Finally, look for evidence of vomit in the bathroom. Although, bulimics may try to be very careful it is impossible to completely clean the bathroom each and every time the bulimic purges. You will see small patches of dried vomit not just on the toilet, but on walls, floors, washbasins, and other bathroom surfaces. By paying attention you can discern the signs of bulimia even though the bulimic may be doing everything in their power to keep their secret hidden.

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