Bulimic patients tend to be of normal or slightly above-normal weight and may struggle with alcohol or drug use. They often disappear into bathrooms after meals to purge. Eating in secret may also occur, as they are embarrassed by the amount of food that they consume. Symptoms of anorexia may appear in women who are bingeing and vice versa. Medical complications from these disorders can be severe.
Starvation can lead to damage of vital organs and, eventually, death.
Anemia and swollen joints may occur in anorexic patients. In bulimic patients, severe digestive problems, loss of vital minerals, dental problems and, in extreme cases, heart failure can occur. In both disorders, irregular heart rhythms, dehydration and depression are common. The sooner one begins treatment for an eating disorder, the better the outcome is likely to be. Unfortunately, convincing those with eating disorders that they need treatment is not always easy.