Anorexia And Bulimia: What Is Each One And The Difference Between Them

Anorexia and bulimia are two eating, psychological and image disorders in which people have a complicated relationship with food and can cause various health complications if not identified and treated in time. 

In the case of anorexia, the person does not eat because he/she is afraid of gaining weight, even though this is usually below the ideal weight. In bulimia, on the other hand, the person eats whatever he/she wants and then makes him/herself vomit, because he/she feels guilt and remorse due to the fear of gaining weight.

Although they are similar in some aspects, anorexia and bulimia are different disorders that must be treated by a multidisciplinary team that includes nutritionists, psychologists and physicians. 

1. How to identify anorexia

To identify whether it is anorexia, in addition to thinness, it is necessary to be attentive to the emergence of behaviors such as:

The person constantly looks fat, even when he/she is not overweight or underweight;

Refuses to eat or expresses constant fear regarding weight gain;

Eats very little and has almost no appetite;

Is always on a diet or counts all the calories in food;

Regularly engages in physical activity with the intention of losing weight.

Who suffers from this disease, tends to try to hide the problem, so he/she will try to hide that he/she does not eat, sometimes faking food intake or avoiding family meals or dinners with friends, for example.

In addition to this, in a more advanced stage of the disease, it can end up having an impact on the body and on the person’s metabolism, causing malnutrition and the emergence of signs and symptoms such as: absence of menstruation, constipation, abdominal pain, difficulty tolerating cold, lack of energy and concentration, tiredness, bloating and heart problems.

See how the treatment of anorexia is carried out. 

2. How to identify bulimia

Unlike anorexia, in bulimia the person is usually within their ideal weight or is slightly overweight, so it is necessary to be aware of the emergence of behaviors such as:

Desire to lose weight, even when you do not need to;

Exaggerated desire to eat at some meals;

Exaggerated practice of physical exercise with the intention of losing weight;

Exaggerated food intake;

Constant need to always go to the bathroom after eating;

Regular use of laxative and diuretic medications;

Weight loss despite appearing to eat a lot;

Feelings of anguish, guilt, regret, fear and shame after overeating.

Whoever suffers from this disease, always has the tendency to try to hide the problem, and therefore eats on many occasions on the sly without being able to control himself most of the time.

Also, due to the frequent use of laxatives and by constantly stimulating vomiting, some signs and symptoms may arise such as: problems in the teeth, irregular menstruation, feeling of weakness, dizziness, frequent inflammation in the throat, abdominal pain and swelling of the cheeks, as the salivary glands may be swollen or atrophied. Calluses and scars may also develop on the hands, caused by the act of constantly provoking vomiting with the fingers.

See how bulimia treatment is performed. 

Differences between anorexia and bulimia

To distinguish between these two diseases it is necessary to focus on their main differences, because they can be easily confused, these are:

Stops eating and refuses to eat

Continues to eat, most of the time compulsively and exaggeratedly

Severe weight loss

Weight loss only slightly above normal or normal

Major distortion of own body image, seeing something that is not in accordance with reality

Makes a minor distortion of body image, seeing it very similar to reality

Often begins in adolescence

Many times begins in adulthood, around 20 years of age

Generally affects more introverted people

Usually affects more extroverted people

He does not see that he has a problem and believes his weight and behavior are normal

His behavior causes shame, fear and guilt

Absence of sexual activity

There is sexual activity, although it may be reduced

Absence of menstruation

Personality often obsessive, depressive and anxious

On many occasions presents excessive and exaggerated emotions, mood swings, fear of abandonment and impulsive behaviors

Both anorexia and bulimia, being eating disorders, always need specialized medical accompaniment, being necessary therapy sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist to cure the disorder, as well as regular consultations with a nutritionist to verify nutritional deficiencies and reinforce a healthier relationship with food.

In the most severe cases, the person may require hospitalization for treatment in a hospital or in clinics specializing in eating disorders, this will allow medical accompaniment 24 hours a day.