What Are The Differences Between Anorexia And Bulimia?

Eating disorders aren’t always what’s shown in the media. The stereotype, that eating disorders mostly affect young middle-class women and girls, simply isn’t true. Millions of people from every race, class, age group, and gender suffer from eating disorders. Two of the most commonly discussed disorders are anorexia and bulimia.

While they are similar, there are many key differences and both are life-threatening illnesses requiring immediate intervention. It’s important to identify when someone has one of these eating disorders so they can get appropriate treatment.

What is anorexia?

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by an extreme fear of gaining weight and a distorted body image. People with anorexia often drastically restrict their food intake, which usually leads to significant weight loss. They may develop rigid eating patterns. This may involve obsessively counting calories and severely limiting their food choices.

People with anorexia may also spend a lot of time exercising as another way to burn calories and keep losing weight. They may show physical symptoms (besides weight loss and thinness) such as fatigue, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, hair loss, amenorrhea, and dry skin. They may lie about the food they’ve eaten, eat only specific foods, and avoid social situations that involve eating. Emotionally, those with anorexia may also suffer from anxiety, depression, isolation, or irritability.

What is bulimia?

Bulimia nervosa, on the other hand, presents as recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by what the DSM-5 calls “inappropriate compensatory behaviors.” During a binge, people with bulimia consume large amounts of food within a short period while feeling a lack of control over their eating. Therapists have now defined two types of bulimia: purging and non-purging. Those who suffer from purging bulimia will typically self-induce vomiting or inappropriately use laxatives or diuretics to prevent gaining weight after a binge. People with non-purging bulimia may instead restrict their food intake or excessively exercise after a binge.

Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia tend to maintain a relatively normal body weight. This can make it especially challenging to identify the disorder just based on their appearance. However, they may show signs such as weight fluctuations, swollen lymph glands, tooth decay due to stomach acid exposure from vomiting, and a preoccupation with their body shape and weight. They may also suffer from anxiety, depression, and self-isolation.

The key differences between them

Weight and body image

Anorexia is typically characterized by severe weight loss and an intense fear of gaining weight. On the other hand, people with bulimia often maintain a relatively normal weight or may even be overweight. While body image concerns are present in both disorders, they tend to be more extreme and overt in anorexia. Those with anorexia may also show more perfectionistic tendencies.

Eating behaviors

People with anorexia severely restrict their food intake, which often leads to malnutrition. But those with bulimia instead have repeated episodes of binge eating followed by purging or non-purging behaviors to compensate for the binge.

Physical health

Anorexia can lead to serious medical complications such as organ failure, osteoporosis, and heart problems due to severe malnutrition. Bulimia can result in dental problems, electrolyte imbalances, and gastrointestinal issues because of purging.

Finding treatment

Early intervention saves lives, so getting help for an eating disorder is a priority. The most important first step is getting a diagnosis from a medical professional. A doctor will develop a tailored treatment plan that may include some combination of medication, rehabilitation, and psychotherapy. Rehabilitation can be inpatient or outpatient, depending on how much professional monitoring a person needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common therapeutic approach, but a mental health expert may recommend a different framework.

To find out more about how we can help you or someone you know, reach out to us to learn more about eating disorder therapy.