Due to the same surrounding it and its role as a coping mechanism, people with bulimia often hide the disorder. For example, parents often don’t realize that their teenager has bulimia. The child might hide food in their room to binge later, run the shower to cover the sound of vomiting, or lie when asked directly about their eating. Similarly, patients in therapy often need to work through other issues and develop coping skills before they feel ready to discuss disordered eating.