The Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia

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    Eating disorders affect about 9% of the population worldwide. No matter your age or your gender, you can still be impacted by an eating disorder. This post is going to focus on two different types of eating disorders, Anorexia and Bulimia. Both of these mental illnesses can have extreme effects on the body and mind. This article will hopefully help you to see the risks of Anorexia/ Bulimia and how to get help if you are struggling with disordered eating.

What is Anorexia/Bulimia?

    Anorexia Nervosa is typically described as an eating disorder where someone restricts their food/calorie intake to the point where they become malnourished and underweight. Typically, people with Anorexia have a fear of being overweight and distorted body image. In some cases, people struggling with Anorexia may exercise compulsively.

    Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder where someone binge-eats and then induces vomit, abuses laxatives, or does anything that can undo the effects of their binge-eating. These are called “compensatory behaviors''.  Much like Anorexia, people who wrestle with Bulimia have a fear of being overweight while having a problem with binge-eating. Because of this fear, people with Bulimia “purge” after a binge to stop weight gain.

What are the symptoms/signs of these disorders?

    Some symptoms/signs of Anorexia include :

  • Noticeable Weight Loss

  • Has concern about eating in public

  • Restricts food intake and/or certain food groups

  • Stomach cramps

  • Dizziness

  • Fainting

    Some symptoms/signs of Bulimia include :

  • Signs of binge eating

  • Evidence of purging

  • Goes to the bathroom immediately after every meal

  • Bloating

  • Discolored / stained teeth

  • Swelling around the jaw and/or cheeks

How are these disorders diagnosed?

To be diagnosed with Anorexia according to the DSM-5 , the following symptoms must be present :

  1. Restriction of food intake leading to low weight

  2. Fear of gaining weight or becoming fat , even while being extremely underweight

  3. Denial of the seriousness of their low weight

To be diagnosed with Bulimia , the following criteria must be met :

  1. Recurrent episodes of binge-eating

  2. Uses compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain

  3. These behaviors occur at least once a week for at least 3 months

  4. These behaviors do not occur only during episodes of Anorexia

    It is also important to note that if you do not show all of these symptoms, but you are still struggling with some characteristics of an eating disorder, it is imperative that you seek help.

What are the consequences of these disorders?

    About 10% of people struggling with Anorexia die because of it. They tend to die due to starvation, suicide, or health-related problems. Also , long-term Anorexia can result in infertility, seizures, and osteoporosis. Anorexia can also result in electrolyte imbalance, which can result in death.

    Bulimia can prevent proper digestion, which can cause extreme bloating, constipation, and bacterial infections. Binge - eating can cause the stomach to rupture, and vomiting can create permanent damage to the esophagus. Heart failure can also happen due to the body breaking down its own tissue because of low calorie intake.

What are some treatment options for Anorexia/Bulimia?

    Treatment all depends on the severity of the Anorexia. If it is very severe, the person struggling would need to be hospitalized and tube-fed until the needed amount of nutrients is obtained. Other treatment options include residential/ outpatient treatment and eating disorder therapy.

    Extreme cases of Bulimia can call for hospitalization. However, different types of therapy and treatments are available to help if your case does not call for a hospital stay. You could start by seeing a mental health professional and starting a treatment plan to help with your struggles.

If you are struggling with Anorexia or Bulimia, it is important to get help as soon as possible. Even if you cannot see the harm these disorders are causing you right now, in the future some of the consequences mentioned above may begin to show in your life. Recovering from an eating disorder is not an easy thing to do, but there is hope in recovery!

Amber Madden, LPCC-S is a certified in treating eating disorders, including anorexia and bulimia. She has availability for virtual sessions if you think you may need to schedule an appointment or consultation. Click here.

Resources

“Anorexia Nervosa.” National Eating Disorders Association, 28 Feb. 2018, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/anorexia

Bothwell, Samantha, et al. “What Is the Most Serious Health Risk from Anorexia Nervosa?” Eating Disorder Hope, 9 June 2022, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/what-is-the-most-serious-health-risk-from-anorexia-nervosa

Chandler, and Chandler. “What Are the Primary Characteristics of Bulimia Nervosa?” Eating Disorder Hope, 9 June 2022, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/blog/what-are-the-primary-characteristics-of-bulimia-nervosa

“Bulimia Nervosa.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/learn/by-eating-disorder/bulimia

“Health Consequences.” National Eating Disorders Association, 22 Feb. 2018, https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/health-consequences

“Eating Disorder Treatment: Know Your Options.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 14 July 2017, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/in-depth/eating-disorder-treatment/art-20046234

 
 

By Kylee Roberts, MH Virtual Assistant

Co-written by Amber Madden, NCC, LPCC-S