The following symptoms and complaints may indicate bulimia nervosa (binge eating disorder):
Leading symptoms
- Cravings/eating binges occurring several times a week (usually secretly!) consisting of high-calorie meals followed by vomiting or the use of laxatives (laxatives), diuretics (dehydrating agents), appetite suppressants, or excessive exercise for weight loss
- The binge eating produces a great sense of shame in the affected person
- Between the eating attacks, the affected eat restrictively and thus force the body to eat again
- Continuous preoccupation with the subject of food and body weight
Accompanying symptoms
- Depressive mood
- Sialadenosis (enlargement of the salivary glands)
- Scars on the back of the hand due to repeated bite injuries.
- Gastroesophageal reflux – transfer of gastric juice into the esophagus resulting in reflux esophagitis (esophagitis).
- Decline in tooth enamel (acid-induced tooth erosion).
- Peripheral edema – water retention in the tissues – due to the attempt to reduce weight with the help of laxatives (laxatives) and diuretics (dehydrating drugs).
- Alcohol dependence
- Drug addiction
- Tablet addiction
- Uncontrolled spending of money
- Autoaggressive behavior
- Social isolation
- Constant weighing
Rare symptoms in bulimia nervosa include:
- Electrolyte disturbances
- Hypochloremia (chlorine deficiency)
- Hypokalemia (potassium deficiency)
- Hyponatremia (sodium deficiency)
- Oligomenorrhea – interval between bleeding is > 35 days and < 90 days, ie, too infrequent menstruation.
- Amenorrhea, secondary – absence of menstruation > 90 days.
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Boerhaave syndrome – rupture of the esophagus due to high pressure during vomiting.
- Gastric rupture – tearing of the stomach wall
Notice. Patients often have visible calluses on their hands from vomiting.
