A patient suffering from bulimia may exhibit which of the following symptoms?

A patient suffering from bulimia nervosa may exhibit a sore throat due to the repeated episodes of vomiting that are characteristic of the disorder. When individuals purge, the stomach acid can irritate the throat, leading to soreness and discomfort. This symptom can often be accompanied by other signs of the condition, such as dental erosion and esophagus irritation, which arise from the frequent exposure to stomach acid.

While extreme weight loss, elevated heart rate, and severe dehydration can be associated with eating disorders in general, they might not be as consistently present in bulimia as the sore throat. Bulimia can lead to fluctuating weight patterns, and an individual may maintain a normal weight or even be overweight, which differentiates it from anorexia nervosa, where extreme weight loss is more common. Elevated heart rate can occur in certain situations, particularly related to electrolyte imbalances, but it is not a hallmark symptom of bulimia itself. Severe dehydration can happen in cases of excessive purging, yet it is not a defining symptom specific to bulimia, as individuals with this eating disorder may not always exhibit severe dehydration unless purging is extreme or combined with inadequate fluid intake.