Bouts of depression are typical in women with bulimia. In recent years the incidence of bulimia is increasing among men and among people from under represented groups. The person begins to diet to lose weight. Dieting leads to hunger and cravings for high-calorie food. She or he responds to the cravings by overeating.
Food becomes a source of comfort.
Overeating begins to be used as a way to numb feelings such as anxiety, anger, depression, frustration, loneliness, exhaustion, boredom, rejection, and failure. Some people with bulimia even binge when they feel happy. The binge leads to guilt and fear of weight gain. Getting rid of the food seems to be an ideal solution. The person thinks he or she can now binge and deal with uncomfortable feelings without gaining weight.