Like anorexia nervosa, bulimia is a serious eating disorder than can wreak havoc on a person’s body, emotions, and mentality. Bulimia can be just as dangerous - if not more - than anorexia. Spotting the early signs can help a person with this eating disorder get the proper medical attention and potentially save their life.

While bulimia and anorexia nervosa have similar symptoms and are brought about in almost the same way, bulimia has a personality all its own. Bulimia as an eating disorder involves a person who eats and then forces themselves to vomit (also called purging). The use of laxatives and other methods of weight loss are also involved with bulimia and many of these methods are the same as those used by anorexics.

One main factor that is characteristic of bulimia, aside from purging, is binge eating. Bulimics tend to eat a large amount of food in one sitting without giving any thought to portion control. During bingeing a person loses self-control and literally stuffs themselves, even when they have already reached the point when they are full. Immediately after bingeing, bulimics are at ease but the feeling quickly turns to guilt. This causes them to rush to the bathroom and purge. Most bulimics feel disgusted with themselves after a bingeing session, which makes them feel justified in purging. This is where the behaviors of bulimia become very problematic.

This eating disorder can prove to be very damaging to the body because of the sudden presence and then the immediate absence of food. Such a yo-yo pattern in weight gain and rapid weight loss is confusing to the body and can produce disastrous effects. Health-wise, bulimics turn to snacks and junk food while bingeing, which opens up the way for cavities, stomach ulcers, stomach ruptures, enamel erosion, swelling and rawness of the throat from vomiting, dehydration, and a number of other hazardous conditions. The difference between anorexia and bulimia is that it is often hard to tell that someone is bulimic. Anorexia’s signs are usually more visible because the person is starving themselves to death and physically wastes away, whereas bulimics can range from being normal weight to overweight.

A few signs to be on the lookout for when it comes to identifying a potential bulimic include an obsession with dieting and exercising, overeating, making frequent trips to the bathroom after eating a meal, complaints about a sore throat, vomiting blood, bloodshot eyes, depression, constipation, bloating, and irregular periods. If you have any reason to believe that you or someone you know is showing signs or symptoms of bulimia, it’s best to talk to a doctor right away and seek treatment. With the help of loved ones and the proper medical professionals, a full recovery is possible.

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