The most bewildering symptom of eating disorders is the distorted body image. People usually associate distorted body image with severe anorexia. It is indicated that this distortion may be more prevalent in people with bulimia. There is also disparity between anorexia which tends to have an accurate perception of the upper body and bulimia.

People with bulimia were more likely than those with anorexia. The anorexia overestimates its size: abdominal and pelvic area. The bulimia is generally practiced in secret. The symptoms may be the following: evidence of discarded packaging for laxatives, diet pills, emetics (drugs that induce vomiting) or diuretics (medications that reduce fluids), eating large amounts of food or buying large quantities that disappear right away, compulsive exercising, broken blood vessels in the eyes, swollen salivary glands, dry mouth; teeth develop cavities, diseased gums and irreversible erosion from excessive acid.

Other symptoms which may appear are: rashes and pimples, small cuts and calluses across the tops of finger joints. The symptoms specific to anorexia are: weight loss provided excessive and continuos dieting, menstruation may be infrequent or absent, orthopedic problems particularly in dancers and athletes, refusal to eat in front of others, hypersensitivity to cold, yellowish skin especially on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, hair may be thin and after eating the stomach can be distressed and bloated. A poor memory and lack judgment can be present to an anorexic patient who can be confused or slowed.

People should be afraid about bulimia and anorexia effects and they must regularly consult the doctor.