Bulimia, also known as bulimia nervosa, is a serious mental illness characterized by binge eating and purging behaviors.

Individuals with bulimia have an intense fear of gaining weight and often engage in unhealthy methods to control their weight, such as vomiting, using laxatives, or excessive exercise. Though it can be difficult to recognize the signs of bulimia, here are 30 red flags to look out for:.

1. Frequent Trips to the Bathroom After Meals

Many individuals with bulimia will purge after meals, which can involve vomiting, using laxatives, or diuretics. If someone is frequently going to the bathroom after meals, it may be a sign of bulimia.

2. Hoarding Food

Individuals with bulimia may feel the need to binge eat large amounts of food, leading them to hoard food in discreet locations such as their room or car.

3. Excessive Exercise

Compulsive exercise can be a sign of bulimia. Someone with bulimia may feel the need to “burn off” the calories they consumed during a binge episode, resulting in excessive or compulsive exercise routines.

4. Swollen Glands

Bulimia can cause the salivary glands in the neck to become inflamed or swollen, leading to a noticeable lumpiness or swelling in the neck.

5. Changes in Weight

It’s common for individuals with bulimia to experience significant weight fluctuations due to their bingeing and purging behaviors.

6. Dental Problems

The frequent vomiting associated with bulimia can cause significant dental problems, such as tooth sensitivity, enamel erosion, and tooth decay.

7. Scarring on the Knuckles

Some individuals with bulimia will induce vomiting by using their fingers to force themselves to gag. This repeated behavior can lead to scarring or calluses on the knuckles or fingers.

8. Bloodshot Eyes

The strain of vomiting can cause the eyes to become red, irritated, or bloodshot.

9. Binge Eating Episodes

Bulimia is characterized by recurrent bingeing episodes, which involve consuming large amounts of food in a short amount of time. This behavior is often done in secret or during times of emotional distress.

10. Mood Swings

Individuals with bulimia may experience mood swings, such as depression, anxiety, or irritability, often related to their bingeing and purging behaviors.

11. Fear of Eating in Public

Many individuals with bulimia experience anxiety or fear about eating in public or around other people due to their struggles with their eating disorder.

Because of the secrecy and shame often associated with bulimia, individuals may withdraw from social activities or avoid spending time with friends and family.

13. Obsession with Weight or Body Shape

Individuals with bulimia often have a preoccupation with their weight or body shape, often feeling dissatisfied no matter how much weight they lose or how thin they become.

14. Constant Dieting

A preoccupation with weight and body shape can also lead to constant dieting or restriction, which can exacerbate bingeing behaviors in individuals with bulimia.

15. Preoccupation with Food

Many individuals with bulimia have a preoccupation with food, constantly thinking about what they will eat, what they have eaten, or when they will have access to food next.

16. Body Dysmorphia

Body dysmorphia is a mental health condition characterized by a distorted perception of one’s own body. Many individuals with bulimia also struggle with body dysmorphia.

17. Restlessness or Hyperactivity

It’s common for individuals with bulimia to feel restless or hyperactive. This can be attributed to the anxiety associated with their eating disorder or can be a result of dopamine imbalances in the brain due to bingeing behaviors.

18. Poor Self-Esteem

Individuals with bulimia often struggle with poor self-esteem, feeling ashamed or guilty about their bingeing and purging behaviors.

19. Feeling a Loss of Control over Eating Habits

Many individuals with bulimia feel a loss of control over their eating habits, feeling intense cravings or urges to consume large amounts of food.

20. Anxiety or Paranoia about Weight Gain

Individuals with bulimia may feel intense anxiety or paranoia about gaining weight or being perceived as overweight, often resulting in their bingeing and purging behaviors.

21. Depression or Suicidal Thoughts

Depression and suicidal thoughts can be common in individuals with bulimia, especially if they feel trapped or ashamed of their behaviors.

22. Feeling Out of Control During Binge Episodes

Binge episodes can often feel overwhelming and out of control for individuals with bulimia, leaving them feeling powerless and trapped in their behaviors.

23. Hiding Food or Eating in Secret

Many individuals with bulimia eat in secret or hide food to avoid judgment or stigma from others about their eating habits.

24. Using Laxatives or Diuretics

Bulimia often involves the use of laxatives or diuretics to help purge the body after a binge episode, resulting in potential health complications such as dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.

25. Withdrawal Symptoms When Not Bingeing

Some individuals with bulimia may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop their bingeing behaviors, such as irritability, anxiety, insomnia, or physical discomfort.

26. Physically Demanding Job or Lifestyle

Individuals with bulimia may be physically active, such as athletes or manual laborers, as a way to burn off the calories they consume during binge episodes.

27. Obsession with Healthy Eating

While the behavior may seem counterintuitive, many individuals with bulimia also struggle with orthorexia, an obsession with healthy eating that can lead to binge episodes and purging behaviors.

28. Unusual or Secretive Behaviors Around Food

Many individuals with bulimia engage in unusual or secretive behaviors around food, such as eating in the middle of the night or hiding food in unusual places.

29. Poor Impulse Control

Bulimia can also affect impulse control, leading individuals to engage in risky behaviors or impulsive choices outside of their eating disorder.

30. Consistent Disruption of Daily Life

Bulimia can significantly disrupt an individual’s daily life, affecting their work, relationships, and personal well-being. For many individuals with bulimia, seeking treatment is necessary to overcome their eating disorder.