The reported incident rate of unwanted sexual contact is higher among those with bulimia nervosa than anorexia nervosa.When exploring the etiology of bulimia through a socio-cultural perspective, the "thin ideal internalization" is significantly responsible. The thin-ideal internalization is the extent to which individuals adapt to the societal ideals of attractiveness. Studies have shown that young women  that read fashion magazines tend to have more bulimic symptoms than those women who do not. This further demonstrates the impact of media on the likelihood of developing the disorder. Individuals first accept and "buy into" the ideals, and then attempt to transform themselves in order to reflect the societal ideals of attractiveness. J. Kevin Thompson and Eric Stice claim that family, peers, and most evidently media reinforce the thin ideal, which may lead to an individual accepting and "buying into" the thin ideal. In turn, Thompson and Stice assert that if the thin ideal is accepted, one could begin to feel uncomfortable with their body shape or size since it may not necessarily reflect the thin ideal set out by society. Thus, people feeling uncomfortable with their bodies may result in body dissatisfaction and may develop a certain drive for thinness. Consequently, body dissatisfaction coupled with a drive for thinness is thought to promote dieting and negative effects, which could eventually lead to bulimic symptoms such as purging or bingeing.
This cycle may be repeated several times a week or, in more serious cases, several times a day and may directly cause:

Chronic gastric reflux after eating, secondary to vomiting
Dehydration and hypokalemia due to renal potassium loss in the presence of alkalosis and frequent vomiting
Electrolyte imbalance, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, cardiac arrest, and even death
Esophagitis, or inflammation of the esophagus
Mallory-Weiss tears
Boerhaave syndrome, a rupture in the esophageal wall due to vomiting
Oral trauma, in which repetitive insertion of fingers or other objects causes lacerations to the lining of the mouth or throat
Russells sign: calluses on knuckles and back of hands due to repeated trauma from incisors
Perimolysis, or severe dental erosion of tooth enamel
Swollen salivary glands (for example, in the neck, under the jaw line)
Gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying
Constipation or diarrhea
Tachycardia or palpitations
Hypotension
Peptic ulcers
Infertility
Constant weight fluctuations are common
Elevated blood sugar, cholesterol, and amylase levels may occur
Hypoglycemia may occur after vomitingThese are some of the many signs that may indicate whether someone has bulimia nervosa:
A fixation on the number of calories consumed
A fixation on and extreme consciousness of ones weight
Low self-esteem and/or self-harming
Suicidal tendencies
An irregular menstrual cycle in women
Regular trips to the bathroom, especially soon after eating
Depression, anxiety disorders and sleep disorders
Frequent occurrences involving consumption of abnormally large portions of food
The use of laxatives, diuretics, and diet pills
Compulsive or excessive exercise
Unhealthy/dry skin, hair, nails, and lips
Fatigue, or exhaustionAs with many psychiatric illnesses, delusions can occur, in conjunction with other signs and symptoms, leaving the person with a false belief that is not ordinarily accepted by others.People with bulimia nervosa may also exercise to a point that excludes other activities.