Bulimia can kill. It almost did me.

There are similar patterns in this eating disorder to Anorexia as well. The symptoms of this disorder are the following:

Eating a huge meal, unlike anorexics who eat bird-sized portions. Then after, getting rid of it through vomiting, taking several laxatives and/or diuretics.

Like an anorexic, a bulimic is terribly concerned with being fat and how they look.

Depression the same as in anorexia

Like anorexia, periods become irregular.

Teeth and other dental problems. There is also heartburn, and a swollen stomach

A person with bulimia is very secretive and deny they have a problem. I had a personal story with bulimia myself, and I also hid my problem as long as I could. I remember binging, purging, taking boxes of laxatives and trying to hide it. I would even go so far as to throw up in a secret container, and hide it under my bed so that people wouldn't wonder why I went to the bathroom after eating. By doing my thing in the container instead, that way it looked like I was innocent and not always going to the bathroom after I ate. My cycle with binging and purging happened out of anger and hatred for myself and my body image, and everyone always harping at me for putting on too much weight. So by doing what I did myself, I really showed everyone that I was fragile and they couldn't push me around. I also wanted to show by this that they hurt me by their remarks. But in turn, I hurt myself and developed medical problems due to this. I overcame the problem on my own without any help or counselling which was a miracle in itself.

Many people with bulimia nervosa unlike myself, do need treatment from a professional. Though I landed in the hospital and the nurses were on to me, they all dropped the ball and I was on my own. Treatment in counselling helps a great deal along with antidepressant therapy since people with bulimia nervosa often have depression problems.

Bulimia may be an ongoing problem for many years for many people and ongoing treatment will be needed. Problems arising from the disorder can be many including tears in the esophagus from repeated vomiting, tooth problems and teeth rotting out which thankfully never happened with me, and blood problems which I had myself such as lack of vitamins and nutrients and low potassium levels.

On another personal note, I would advise parents to not harp on their child's weight problem and constantly tell them how they should look, that they are overweight, and instead encourage healthful eating habits. The worse thing a parent can say to a child mush less anyone else is, "You've put on weight!"