How can someone tell when a close family member is bulimic?

Answer 1

There are warning signs, yet they are suttle. A bulimic person is usually very discreat. Some signs include rapid weight loss, extrem thiness. Other signs include excuesing self after meals. Also mouth sores, & tooth trouble from the stomich acidity after inducing vomiting.

Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following:
eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within any 2-hour period), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time and under similar circumstances
a sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating)
Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior in order to prevent weight gain, such as self-induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise.
The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, at least twice a week for 3 months.
Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight.
The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of Anorexia Nervosa.

Purging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas

Nonpurging Type: during the current episode of Bulimia Nervosa, the person has used other inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as fasting or excessive exercise, but has not regularly engaged in self-induced vomiting or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or enemas

Answer 2

If this person is eating a lot of food and doesn't seem to ever gain weight or actually loses weight, this would be a good sign. Bulimics are obsessed with how they look. They want to be skinnier and are never satisfied with their bodily appearance.

People with Bulimia Nervosa will eat with the family (or whoever) and then dismiss themselves to go to the bathroom to purge. A person who has done this for awhile will have decaying teeth and skin discolorations on their fingers from the purging (due to the stomach acid).

If you know someone who has Bulimia Nervosa, help her (or him). It's a very dangerous habit that could cause severe stomach and esophageal problems or worse. Help! Be a friend and help the person understand that what she is doing is incredibly dangerous and what could happen if it doesn't stop.

Answer 3

Often times, you'll notice the person will eat a great deal, but never seem to gain any weight. They will go to the bathroom very soom after eating. Many times they will announce it, kind of excusing themselves to be discreet. Bulimics tend to have low potassium levels, but I know you wouldn't know this just by looking at someone. You might notice this person is a little obsessed with image and weight gain.

Answer 4

Their breath may stink like vomit. Their teeth may be getting discolored grayish, They go to the bathroom immediately after eating. They may look tired under eyes. watch their behavior it will show. Notice the food in the house and how it is disappearing. Notice how they talk about their body (they may seam very insecure about it or always say they are fat). Have them read Bhagavad Gita As it is By Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada so they can get in touch with reality and know that they are not their body and what the meaning and purpose of human life is.

Answer 5

Do they eat a lot yet have the same weight as nicole ritche. that is a definate sign. Another is that as soon as they finish eating they go to the bathroom. When they come back check their breath, vomit is an unpleasent smell and = they r bulimic

Answer 6

Sometimes if they have been doing it for a while you can tell by looking at their hands! There knuckles are often red or have some sorts of cuts or scratches. That happens when they put their finger down their throat and their teeth scratch on their knuckles. Their teeth will not look healthy, they are always asking if they looked like they gained weight, they eat a lot but are not fat, they are always weak or tired, they act depressed...there are so many others, perhaps you could look it up on yahoo search also.

Answer 7

Is the person loosing a lot of weight in a very short period of time?
Does the person eat lots of food and then get up from the table immediately and go into the bathroom?
Is the person having teeth problems, erosion of teeth and gums?
Does the person seem dependent on laxatives or enemas for bowel movements?

Answer 8

From what I understand, the first and most visible sign would be their appearance. Pale looking, big baggy clothes, their teeth has all the enamel worn off. They most likely tend to sleep alot as they have not alot of energy.
I have heard of people hiding ziplock bags of puke in the back of their closets to keep their secret hidden from their loved ones.
I personally can't stand to puke, so I never have to worry about becoming bulimic.

Answer 9

Their teeth....and if there bones....but that's dependant upon how long they have been doing it. Also, by their behavior modification. They tend to be very aggressive in their eating habits..my friend she was quite an easy get along person that did as what she was told...but she went to eating disorders because it was her way of being able to control something in her life.