Recognize the Symptoms of Bulimia
Bulimia is an eating disorder that affects the way a person looks at food and her personal body image. There are a wide range of bulimia symptoms that often go unnoticed because of the stigma associated with the psychological condition. Many symptoms are subtle and often require the help of a doctor to recognize.
Instructions
Learn to Recognize Bulimia Symptoms
1. Read the book "Bulimia Nervosa," designed to help doctors and patients recognize the symptoms of bulimia.
2. Secrecy surrounding eating and excessive expectations of privacy after eating are symptoms of bulimia. Binge eating and purging are both private activities that usually happen behind closed doors.
3. Notice the coloration of fingers. Bulimia patients often purge by cramming fingers down the throat. Physical symptoms of purging can show up as sores on bulimic's fingers.
4. Frequent bathroom visits directly after eating can be a sign of bulimia. Bulimics often purge right after eating no matter where they are, and you may notice the smell of vomit or the constant use of gum or mints to mask the behavior.
5. Consider hidden laxatives, diet pills, diuretics and enemas as symptoms of bulimia. Purging often takes the form of vomiting as well as using an over-the-counter aid to rid the body of food.
6. An excessive exercise regimen can be a symptom of bulimia. Non-purging bulimics often use exercise to burn off food binges.
7. Correlate a large food intake with no weight change to the possibility of bulimia. Bulimics often binge on food, but due to purging or other eating habits, never gain weight.
8. Note unrealistic body image standards as symptoms of bulimia. Avoiding mirrors, wearing oversized clothes and obsessing about weight gain are all signs of a problem with body image.
9. A mouth full of sores or bleeding gums is a sign of frequent vomiting and a potential symptom of bulimia. Stomach acid burns the mouth and throat, causing tooth decay and open sores.
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