Bulimia sufferers worry about their weight, believing they are much too fat. They often feel very guilty about their weight leading to eating lots of food (binges) then trying desperately to get rid of the weight they believe they have put on. They do this by combinations of starvation, vomiting, using laxatives and appetite suppressing drugs.

This pattern of over-eating and reducing weight can lead to very serious physical problems. The vomiting and 'drug abuse' in particular can cause severe problems to your health by interfering with the chemicals in your body.

Unfortunately, this is not a successful way of losing weight so you end up going through the cycle repeatedly.

Bulimia is very common in teenagers and people in their early twenties. It affects both females and males but is more common in females.

Bulimia is considerably bad for your mental and physical health and unfortunately it is not easily recognised by others because there isn't usually rapid weight loss (your weight fluctuates). A lot of people with bulimia try to keep it a secret by discreetly going to the toilet to be sick after they have eaten food. Bulimics sometimes take laxatives as another way of attempting to get rid of the food they have eaten.

You might think that it is ok to carry on like this because you are taking food into your body, but it isn't. You are causing so many problems for your body. You need to get treatment as soon as possible so that you can start having a good diet and change the way that you think about yourself. You may not realise it but you are a beautiful person, but with the right help, you will learn to love yourself, enjoy food and how you look.

Normally people that have low self confidence or self esteem turn to bulimia to help them feel better about the way they think other people see them. Also people that have tried various diets with little success may turn to bulimia.

People with bulimia (and anorexia nervosa) usually have unrealistic views of the way they should look. Believing that they are unattractive unless they look like the pictures of Hollywood models & film stars that we see thrown in our faces every day

Bulimia is normally caused as a way of dealing with a social pressure. For example, if people used to bully you because you were overweight or if there have been problems in your family. Also a lot of bulimic people want to be like the celebrities that they see on TV and in magazines. This is unfortunate because the media projects an unrealistic view of beauty. Celebrities' bodies get digitally enhanced on the computer before you see them in the media, so in real life they don't look like they do in magazines or on the T.V. Want an example? Click here

People who have bulimia say that they are constantly worried about their weight, how they look and the food they eat. Making yourself sick makes you feel weak and the worry that you still haven't lost enough weight remains. You feel tired. When you eat, you want to "binge eat" by consuming large quantities of food, then you feel bloated and guilty and the only escape it seems, is to throw up the food you have just eaten. There is another way to make you feel better and love your body, you just need a little help finding it.

Mental

• Uncontrollable urges to eat vast amounts of food
• An obsession with food, or feeling 'out of control' around food
• Distorted perception of body weight and shape
• Mood swings
• Anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, shame and guilt
• Isolation - feeling helpless and lonely

Physical

• Frequent weight changes
• Sore throat, tooth decay and bad breath caused by excessive vomiting
• Swollen salivary glands making the face rounder
• Poor skin condition and possible hair loss
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Loss of sex-drive
• Lethargy and tiredness
• Increased risk of heart problems and problems with other internal organs

If you experience any of these symptoms please go and see a doctor as soon as you can, talk with them about everything that is going on.

The fact that you have recognised you may have a problem is a very positive step forward. Have a chat with your doctor about how you're feeling, what you're thinking and any troubles you may have. This might sound like a massively scary thing to do, but please remember your doctor is there to help, it's all confidential and they won't judge you at all, they will have met a lot of people that are going through what you are – all they will do is help you out.

In the meantime you may want to Chat to a Buddy, or check out our Treatments and Self Help sections, try to take little steps everyday to make yourself feel better.