Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia: An Overview
Eating disorders are a group of mental health conditions that involve problematic eating habits and can lead to significant physical complications. These conditions affect millions of people worldwide, with about 8 in 100 females and 2 in 100 males experiencing an eating disorder during their lifetime.
Two of the most common eating disorders are Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Although they share some similarities, these disorders have distinct symptoms, behaviors, and treatment approaches.
Anorexia Nervosa involves strategies to lose or avoid gaining weight, often leading to extreme weight loss and malnutrition. People with Anorexia Nervosa may display behaviors such as eating very little, avoiding foods high in calories, and weighing themselves often. The disorder also leads to physical symptoms like dry skin, hair loss, and brittle nails.
In contrast, Bulimia Nervosa involves recurrent episodes of binge eating large amounts of food, followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, laxative or diuretic abuse, fasting, or excessive exercise. People with Bulimia Nervosa may show physical symptoms like inflamed sore throat, swollen salivary glands, dental enamel erosion, gastrointestinal disturbances, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that risk stroke or heart attack.
Both disorders require a multidisciplinary treatment approach, including medical, nutritional, and psychological therapies. The focus of treatment for Anorexia Nervosa is primarily on restoring healthy weight and addressing distorted body image and obsessive food-related thoughts, while Bulimia Nervosa treatment focuses on breaking the binge-purge cycle and correcting electrolyte imbalances.
Support and encouragement from loved ones can be crucial, especially for children and adolescents seeking treatment. People around them can show support by avoiding mentioning the person's appearance or weight, encouraging the person to seek professional help, including the person in social gatherings, building up their self-esteem, listening to the person, and avoiding talk about dieting, exercise, or food.
It is essential to remember that eating disorders are not a lifestyle choice but severe mental health conditions that can disrupt a person's emotions, thoughts, and eating behaviors. Anyone who suspects they may have an eating disorder should seek professional medical help.
Recovering from an eating disorder generally takes some time and may involve several stages of change, such as accepting the problem, preparing to change, practicing and maintaining new behaviors, and seeking long-term support. With proper treatment and support, it is possible to overcome these conditions and regain a healthy lifestyle.
References: [1] American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. [2] National Institute of Mental Health. (2020). Eating Disorders. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml [3] Mayo Clinic. (2020). Eating disorders. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eating-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20369415
- The predictive symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa, a severe mental health condition, include strategies to lose weight, such as eating very little or avoiding foods high in calories, which can lead to health-and-wellness complications like depression and malnutrition.
- Science has shown that AQ, or the Absorptive personality (one of the Five-Factor Model personality traits), can be associated with an increased risk of developing Anorexia Nervosa due to its tendency toward perfectionism, orderliness, and emotional sensitivity.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, it's important to recognize mental-health conditions like Anorexia Nervosa as serious and requiring professional treatment rather than a lifestyle choice. To support those struggling, loved ones should avoid discussing appearance or weight and provide a supportive, affirming environment for recovery and long-term wellness.