How to Spot Bulimia

People who are bulimic do not shout it from the rooftops; in fact, they are usually secretive. If you have a friend or loved one who you think might be bulimic, you want to get help for them; but it feels wrong to confront somebody about an eating disorder unless you are certain. Here are some signs to help you make a confident assessment.

Instructions

• 1

  Notice how she talks about her weight. Bulimics are extremely body-conscious. She may say things like, "I feel fat," and constantly talk about wanting to be skinny.

• 2

  Monitor his eating habits. Bulimics will often eat an abnormally large quantity of food in a short period of time. Eating excessively with no apparent weight gain is one symptom of bulimia.

• 3

  Pay attention if she is vague about when or where she eats. Though bulimics sometimes binge at meals, most keep their habits a secret. A bulimic person will avoid eating around others.

• 4

  Keep yourself attuned to suspicious disappearances. If he gets up in the middle of the night to scrounge in the kitchen, or takes off from the house for a few hours with no clear reason, he might be binging in secret.

• 5

  Check the medicine cabinet for laxatives. Using laxatives or enemas to purge is a sign of bulimia.

• 6

  Listen for the sound of running water if she goes to the bathroom shortly after a meal. Turing on the tap is one way to cover the sound of vomiting.

• 7

  Look for outward signs of purging and malnutrition, including thinning hair, unhealthy nails and skin, and a general lack luster appearance. Stomach acid leads to loss of tooth enamel and a bulimic may complain about cavities and tooth decay.