Menstruation stops, and the sufferers experience an increased sensitivity to cold, low self-esteem and problems coping with stress. They may also have problems sleeping, and may feel tired and listless constantly. The condition can be fatal. It can damage kidneys and reproductive organs irreparably. Counselling, using cognitive behavioural therapy, is usually used to try to change a sufferer's thinking and behaviour.
Victims tend to eat a large amount of food in a short period of time the binge element.
The person then gets rid of the food and its calories through vomiting, laxative abuse or over-exercising. Some studies say that impulsive women who drink and are prone to self harm, tend to be be bulimic, although Dr Lee Ee Lian, psychiatrist in charge of the Eating Disorder Clinic at the Institute of Mental Health, disagrees. She has seen stable women in stable careers fall into that trap. The sufferer is usually afraid of being overweight, and is very conscious of body-image issues. She tries to diet, but often unsuccessfully, so she swings to the other extreme and eats a lot, and then gets rid of the food.