The bulimic may spend more and more time alone, sometimes going through the binge-purge cycle several times a day. The Hidden Affliction. People with bulimia often maintain close to normal weights. They often go through their binges and purges in private, so the condition may be hard to detect. The bulimic is emotionally insecure and lacks confidence.
Bulimia tends to begin in the teen years and often continues into adulthood.
But people with bulimia aren't always physically hungry. They have learned to use food to cope with stress and emotional difficulties. Erratic eating patterns develop in response to using food as a coping tool, which leads to the inability to respond to hunger and satiety in an appropriate manner.