This compulsive illness continues to cycle in this destructive pattern until it consumes the bulimic's time and energy. The American Psychiatric Association's criteria for diagnosing bulimia is recurrent episodes of binge eating, awareness that eating patterns are abnormal, fear of not being able to stop voluntarily, depressed mood, and self-depreciating thoughts following eating binges. The weight of a bulimic can range from under to overweight. The majority range in age from teens to mid-thirties. Bulimia takes a toll on the body.
Vomiting can lead to an electrolyte imbalance.
The resulting low potassium can cause urinary tract infections, kidney failure, and heart irregularities. Laxative abuse can damage the colon and slow the intestinal tract. Water pills can cause dehydration and low potassium. A bulimic may complain of chronic indigestion, facial puffiness, sore throats, constipation muscle weakness, irregular menses, and fatigue. Her personality profile finds her feeling alienated, over-dependent on the approval of others, finding difficulty in expressing anger, and low self esteem.