For most people when the topic of bulimia is brought up, the first image that comes to mind is that of a young, tortured, skinny teenage girl that barely ever eats. The truth is that most bulimics do not fit the conventional image most people associate with bulimics. One in every ten bulimics is male, and three in every ten bulimics is an overweight teenage girl. Most bulimics are in the “healthy” weight range and are far from emaciation. Often times, when a bulimic reaches near the levels or underweight, they become anorexic, eating less and less every day. Bulimia and Anorexia are closely tied together but are of two completely different worlds, meanings and origins. Ninety percent of Bulimics are female and the disease usually starts up in the mid to late teens until the mid twenties. Bulimics base their self worth and self esteem solely on their weight, which is a common characteristic in all eating disorders.
Bulimics are binge eaters by nature, but what makes the difference between binge eaters and bulimics is that bulimics purge after their binge eating so they will not gain weight. Bulimics eat when they are not hungry and they cannot help it: it is almost a second nature to them. Purging is not only the act of vomiting, purging also takes form in fasting (not eating for several days) and excessive exercise to get rid of all of the consumed calories. After a while, even when bulimics eat something small, such as an apple, they will purge because of the guilt. Bulimia turns into anorexia overtime first with the sufferer purging because he or she has binged. After a few months time it is an instinct to purge anything eaten, no matter how few calories have been consumed.
Symptoms of Bulimia and Purging:
• Secrecy of eating
• Always on a diet
• Disappearance of large quantities of food
• Eating after hours or when alone
• Going to the bathroom right after eating
• The water is running while the person is in the bathroom
• When they come out of the bathroom their eyes are watery and red
• Puffy Cheeks
• Rapid Weight loss