Starvation and purging can cause dehydration. Some of the frequent complaints from anorexics and bulimics are skin rashes and dry skin. Self-induced vomiting can cause callus formation and scarring of the knuckles from contact with the teeth. Amenorrhea is reported by the majority of anorexics and 40 percent of bulimics. The Courses of Anorexia and Bulimia Pressure to maintain a slender figure may lead to weight loss attempts that eventually can lead to anorexia or bulimia.
Weight loss requires a reduction in the amount of total food intake.
Typically, individuals may begin by excluding from their diet what they consider to be highly caloric foods. In time, most anorexic individuals end up with a very restricted diet that is often limited to only a few foods. The course of bulimia is different. An individual's hunger increases due to their restrictive diet. The hunger is satisfied by a binge which typically consists of sweets or salty carbohydrates such as ice cream, cake, and potato chips.