Many anorexics are deeply depressed and some display suicidal tendencies. They can be obsessive in their behavior, striving for perfection in everything they do, reacting very badly to any criticism. They describe themselves as fat even when they are severely underweight. Bulimia Bulimia is often difficult to detect. It is characterized by bingeing and purging cycles.
Sufferers tend to consume normal amounts of food in public.
In private they binge, often eating huge quantities. The purging is an attempt to rid the body of this food and takes the form of induced vomiting by sticking fingers or other implements down the throat and abuse of medicinal products. Bulimics may be underweight, but are frequently within normal weight ranges or are slightly over weight. As well as bingeing and purging cycles bulimics may display a variety of typical behaviors. Bulimics feel deeply ashamed of their bingeing and the fact that they frequently lie to protect themselves.