A bulimic is a person who suffers from an eating disorder known as bulimia nervosa, or simply bulimia. It can be difficult for individuals to recognize that they have an eating disorder and often it falls to close friends and family members to bring up the possibility of an eating disorder. A person might be bulimic if they exhibit certain signs, but it can be difficult to determine because many bulimic individuals successfully hide their condition.

If a person is bulimic, they tend to eat a great deal of food in a short period of time. Sometimes referred to as 'binges,' these eating episodes are generally followed by feelings of guilt, which result in the sufferer immediately and forcibly expelling the food to prevent weight gain. Someone suffering from bulimia may induce vomiting almost immediately after eating or abuse laxatives. This behavior pattern becomes a vicious cycle that is extremely difficult to break.

When a person is bulimic, they suffer from both emotional and physical distresses. Like many other eating disorders, bulimia is often triggered by negative emotions including sadness, depression, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. These particular feelings may trigger a binge, but then guilt takes over causing an individual to have intense fears of weight gain.

Physically, if a person is bulimic, they can suffer internal damage of the esophagus, stomach, and digestive tract. Externally, they may suffer from swelling and the enamel on the teeth become damaged from frequent vomiting. Dehydration, anemia, and heart problems are all conditions that can result from bulimia. Bulimia can also have very negative effects on reproductive health.

Telltale signs that a person is bulimic include excessive weight loss measures that do not seem to include diet such as pills and excessive exercise. A bulimic will often have eating behaviors which seem strange, frequent visits to the bathroom, and a change in mood and vitality. While some bulimic individuals show no weight loss, many become too thin very quickly.

If you suspect you are bulimic or you believe someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, there is help. Professional intervention is needed to break both the psychological and physical habits that trigger bulimic behavior. A doctor or psychologist who specializes in eating disorders can help break the sufferings that bulimics endure. However, recognizing the problem is the first step towards triumph over any eating disorder. A doctor will keep your condition private and work with you to regain healthy control of your eating habits and your body.