What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia

What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia

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The anorexia and bulimia are two of the eating disorders more common and both have a very serious psychological problem as a background. These pathologies, although both sexes can suffer from it, are more frequent in women and in stages such as adolescence or pre-adolescence. Although those who suffer from them have a common goal such as the desire to lose weight and the obsession with controlling your weight, there are important differences between the two in relation to the behavior of the patients and the symptoms they present. In the following OneHowTo article we will tell you what is the main difference between anorexia and bulimia.

Steps to follow:

1

As we pointed out, both anorexia and bulimia are eating behavior disorders derived from a excessive preoccupation with physical appearance and body weight control. Both are fundamentally motivated by high self-demand, insecurity, low self-esteem and the great fear of failure due to having a body different from the ideal model accepted in society, possessed by the people who suffer from them. All this leads them to develop an obsession to improve their body image losing weight, which brings very serious problems both in their physical and mental health.

2

To understand the difference between anorexia and bulimiaIn the first place, it is essential what is the general picture presented by patients with each of these diseases:

  • The anorexy is defined as a psychological disorder in which the sick person has a distorted view of your body, looking fat even though her weight is much lower than that recommended for her good health. You are truly terrified of obesity or weight gain, so you try to lose weight stop eating and restricting the consumption, above all, of foods with higher caloric value.
  • The bulimia, for its part, is a psychological disorder in which the patient suffers sudden changes in weight, due to the behavior they present. They feel a great desire to consume high-calorie foods in high quantities, episodes known as binge-eating, which are always linked to feelings of guilt and extreme measures such as induce vomiting not to gain weight, ingest laxatives, abuse physical exercise and follow radical diets.

3

Therefore, the main difference between anorexia and bulimia that is observed is linked to the behavior of the patients when controlling their weight. On the one hand, the sufferers of anorexy have a much more behavior controller Faced with his weight loss goal, since all his actions are aimed at carefully analyzing and controlling what is ingested, and even being able to eat nothing throughout the day.

On the other hand, the sufferers of bulimia present a more behavior anxious and not very controlling, since they have a real lack of control in their daily diet, following radical regimens such as spending a day without eating in combination with the impulsive consumption of a large amount of food (binge eating). Later, they compensate for these binges by causing vomiting or taking laxatives in order to get rid of the feeling of guilt and shame they feel towards themselves.

4

Another difference that can be detected between a person with anorexia and another with bulimia is in body weight. Normally, patients with anorexia weigh much less than their ideal weight, reaching a situation of extreme thinness; while patients with bulimia can have a normal weight and gain weight and lose weight very abruptly.

This article is merely informative, at oneHOWTO we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to What is the difference between anorexia and bulimia, we recommend that you enter our Mental Health category.