Todays post is going to be aimed at people that may be concerned about somebody they knows behaviours around food and their body. I am going to be listing some signs that could point towards somebody having bulimia but please keep in mind, just because somebody may do some of these behaviours it doesn't mean they definitely have an eating disorder and also somebody doesn't have to use all these behaviours to have an eating disorder.

Physical signs

• Swelling of the cheeks (hamster/chipmunk cheeks)- This is a sign that is harder to hide. Self induced vomiting can cause the face to swell (particularly the parotid glands). This happens because of the water loss which happens with self induced vomiting you end up with water retention in your glands. 
• Teeth discolouration- The acid from your stomach, which is brought up during a purge, strips enamel from your teeth causing discolouration of the teeth and can cause tooth decay. Also because the sufferer may not be getting the sufficient nutrients the teeth can become weaker. 
• Marks on hands/knuckles from self induced vomiting- You may find that a bulimics hands have cuts and callouses on the fingers and particularly the knuckles due to using fingers in the throat to induce vomiting. This happens because of the teeth biting or scraping the hand/fingers from the gag reflex. 
• Fluctuating weight- Typically a bulimic is of an average weight (personally hate that term, but we shall leave that for another post). I know for me personally throughout my time with bulimia my weight would fluctuate a lot depending if I was going through a stage of starvation and then into a binge/purge stage because my body was trying to cling on to whatever I was eventually eating. 
• Smell of vomit- This is an obvious warning sign. If you go into their room when they've disappeared after a meal and you can smell vomit or if they come downstairs from using the toilet after a meal and their breath smells like vomit or even sometimes tooth paste as if they've just cleaned their teeth or rinsed with mouth wash this is a huge warning sign and should be taken seriously. 
• Over exercising- Bulimics may tend to have an obsession with exercising. Obviously exercise is healthy for you but be aware if somebody is taking it to an extreme. 

• If the toilet flushes multiple times- If someone has purged in the toilet the remnants of the vomit may still be left after the first flush. Somebody who is trying to hide their eating disorder will want to ensure all signs of the purge has gone so therefore may need to flush the toilet multiple times. 
• Toilet paper placed in the toilet after flushing- This is another thing some people may use to hide remnants of a purge as you can still be left with floating bits and the toilet paper conceals this and also absorbs the greasy layer that may be left after a purge. 
• Disappearing after meals- If someone disappears to the toilet after meals consistently this can be another sign of bulimia. If they are spending a long time in the bathroom that is something to look out for and also if you hear the tap running they may be trying to conceal a purge. It doesn't always have to be disappearing to the toilet though. I used to be aware people would get suspicious if I kept disappearing to the toilet so I would shut myself away in my bedroom instead. 
• Evidence of a binge- If someone is binge eating there is more than likely going to be wrappers that they need to hide. If you come across a large quantity of wrappers or containers that seem like there has been an attempt to hide them then that is something to be suspicious of. You may also find receipts that have been thrown out or hidden which contain a large amount of food on. A lot of bulimics may also have secret stashes of food ready for when they have the impulse to binge so be aware of that if you find hidden food. 

Psychological Signs 

• Isolating self- When suffering from bulimia a person can want to isolate themselves as it brings their mood down and they may not want to socialise. Along with that, another factor of isolating themselves is the obvious reason of wanting privacy to binge and purge. 
• If they make frequent negative comments about their body image- If they seem to be obsessive over their appearance and their weight or if you see them constantly body checking in mirrors this could be a warning sign. 
• If they show signs of anxiety, depression, self harm or have a lot of mood swings. Sufferers of eating disorders can also have trouble with other mental health disorder which can push them further into their eating disorders. A lot of people with eating disorders use they behaviours as a coping method for their anxieties. Due to the strain they put on themselves with their bulimia it can cause sufferers to have a short temper especially when being questioned about their behaviours. 

Obviously some of these warning signs do not mean that a person definitely has an eating disorder. Please take into consideration that somebody may just have a low self esteem and need help building their confidence. These are just a few signs to look out for if you are worried about somebody and their relationship with food. If you feel like somebody you know may have an eating disorder talk to them in a calm and understanding manner and show them that you're there to help them and if they do have a problem make sure you support them with the next steps of going to a GP.

                                                           Hope this post may have helped you
                                                                                 Lorna
                                                                                 XXX