Bulimia Nervosa: Symptoms

What are the symptoms of bulimia nervosa?

People who have bulimia nervosa have episodes where they feel they are unable to control their eating, which are typically followed by periods of self-disgust and efforts to compensate for overeating. Normal weight and secretive bingeing and purging can make it difficult for others to recognize what is occurring; however, vomiting and using medications to lose weight or encourage bowel movements can create other symptoms.

Common primary symptoms of bulimia nervosa

Common primary symptoms of bulimia nervosa include:

• Awareness of abnormal eating patterns
• Eating large quantities of food at one sitting
• Excessive exercising
• Feelings of lack of control over eating binges
• Normal weight
• Preoccupation with weight, fear of weight gain
• Secretive behavior
• Self-disgust and guilt over eating binges
• Unhappiness over size and body shape
• Use of emetics to induce vomiting, laxatives or enemas to stimulate bowel movements, or diuretics or diet pills to lose weight
• Vomiting after eating

Common symptoms related to purging

Purging by vomiting or using medications to lose weight or encourage bowel movements can cause additional symptoms including:

• Broken blood vessels in the eyes
• Cuts, calluses and scars on the knuckles and backs of the hands
• Dry mouth
• Heartburn
• Intestinal problems and indigestion
• Sensitive teeth
• Sore throat
• Swollen salivary glands
• Thirst
• Tooth erosion and decay

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, bulimia nervosa can be life threatening. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening symptoms including:

• Being a danger to oneself or others, including threatening, irrational or suicidal behavior
• Bluish coloration of the lips or fingernails
• Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
• Change in mental status or sudden behavior change, such as confusion, delirium, lethargy, hallucinations and delusions
• Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure, palpitations
• Cold, clammy, pale skin
• Not producing any urine
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) or abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Respiratory or breathing problems, such as shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, not breathing
• Seizure
• Severe abdominal pain
• Vomiting blood, rectal bleeding, or bloody stool