What Is Bulimia Nervosa?
Bulimia nervosa, often referred to as bulimia, is an eating disorder associated with eating large amounts of food (binge eating) and then getting rid of it (purging). Individuals with the condition often try to eliminate calories to prevent gaining weight. Hence, purging is present as one of the main symptoms of bulimia.
This eating disorder can be potentially life-threatening. Bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders are a range of mental health conditions. Aside from proper treatment plans, individuals with bulimia require immense support, compassion, empathy and understanding.
What Is Anorexia?
Anorexia as an eating disorder is recognised by an intense fear of gaining weight and a severe reduction of food intake.
Individuals experiencing anorexia often have a distorted image of their bodies and tend to see themselves as overweight. This leads to specific unhealthy eating patterns and habits, including:
- Extreme dieting
- Refusal to eat food
- Fasting
- Food avoidance
- Excessive exercise
The most common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:
- Obsessive thoughts over weight loss
- Restricted eating habits
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Extreme weight loss
Anorexia Physical Characteristics
Anorexia nervosa can lead to various emotional and physical signs and symptoms. The physical characteristics of anorexia can vary, but some of the more common include:
- Weight loss
- Damaged skin
- Thinning of bones
- Brittle hair or nails
- Infertility
- Challenges with the gastrointestinal system
- Irregularities in the menstrual cycle
- Arrhythmia
- Dizziness, fainting, or general weakness
If left untreated, anorexia nervosa can lead to life-threatening health concerns.
Anorexia Behaviours
In many cases, individuals might portray behavioural symptoms, such as skipping meals or adopting unhealthy eating habits, before the physical symptoms are evident.
Other more common behavioural signs and symptoms include:
- Extreme exercising (either too long or too intense)
- Consuming only low-calorie foods
- Evident discomfort in one’s body
- Social withdrawal, especially if there’s food involved
- Skipping meals
- Irritability and agitation
- Feelings of anxiety or depression
It’s important to remember that individuals living with eating disorders are not defined by their condition. Therefore, they deserve the compassion, support, and understanding needed to help them overcome their challenging journey.
Bulimia Characteristics?
Bulimia nervosa is characterised by episodes of consuming large amounts of food (binge eating) followed by purging behaviours. Individuals often are focused on eliminating the calories they consume during binge episodes. Therefore, purging is a common symptom of bulimia nervosa.
Individuals sometimes excessively exercise or do extreme fasting after a binge episode instead of purging.
Bulimia Physical Characteristics
Some of the more common physical characteristics of bulimia nervosa include:
- Extreme weight fluctuation
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dehydration
- Bruises and scars on knuckles caused by self-induced vomiting
- Visible busted blood vessels in the eyes
Bulimia Behaviours
Similarly to anorexia, there are some common behavioural symptoms linked to bulimia, including:
- Constant worry over body weight and body image
- Food consumption to the point of discomfort (binge eating)
- Frequent visits to the bathroom after meals
- Excessive exercising after meals
- Challenges with self-esteem
- Avoiding eating in front of others
After noticing these symptoms among close peers or loved ones, it’s essential to approach them with compassion and empathy. Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that approaching individuals experiencing eating disorders is a delicate matter that must be done at the right time. People with anorexia and bulimia might not be ready to speak openly about their experience, which can lead to further social withdrawal.
Anorexia and Bulimia Similarities
Before drawing a line between the two, it’s essential to understand the similarities between anorexia and bulimia.
- Both are eating disorders that involve complex relationships between individuals, food, and their body image
- Both conditions involve fear of gaining weight
- Both can result in mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression
- Both are mental health conditions and do not require an individual to be a certain weight
- Both conditions tend to affect women more than men
- Both anorexia and bulimia can be triggered by similar factors
- Both can be challenging to recover from without professional medical help
Key Differences Between Anorexia and Bulimia
When discussing the difference between anorexia and bulimia, it’s essential to consider multiple categories by which they differ.
Although both conditions have similar symptoms and are linked to distorted body image, it’s crucial to understand what makes them different. This is especially important when it comes to creating a treatment plan.
Below you can see the difference between anorexia and bulimia.
| Anorexia | Bulimia | |
|---|---|---|
| Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms | Individuals might prefer to eat less and skip meals. | Individuals eat large amounts of food and then indulge in purging activities. |
| Usual Age of Onset | Usually during early teens. | Usually during late teens. |
| Long-term health concerns | May result in health conditions such as amenorrhea, osteoporosis, infertility, etc. | May result in heart failure, oesophagus cancer, damage to the teeth, etc. |
| Treatment | Might require hospitalization. | Usually doesn’t require hospitalization. |
Mutual Risk Factors of Anorexia and Bulimia
While the two eating disorders have some distinct differences, there are several mutual risk factors that can lead to the development of anorexia and bulimia.
Genetics: some research shows that both anorexia and bulimia have a genetic component. Namely, studies have shown that people with a family history of eating disorders are more likely to develop one themselves
Psychological factors: both anorexia and bulimia are often associated with low self-esteem, negative body image, and pressures from social and popular media
Environmental factors: both anorexia and bulimia can be triggered by environmental factors such as stress, trauma, or societal pressure to be thin. These factors can contribute to the development of unhealthy eating patterns and a complex relationship with food
It’s crucial to note that not everyone with these risk factors will develop anorexia or bulimia, and other factors may contribute to the development of these eating disorders.
Recovering From Anorexia or Bulimia
Recovering from these eating disorders can be a challenging journey. Howeverecovery is possible r, with patience, dedication, and the right support.
The recovery process can include treatment options such as therapy, group counselling, nutritional counselling, and medication. During this process, individuals will understand the underlying psychological factors that influence their complex relationship with food and their perception of their body. Additionally, medication is sometimes prescribed to treat anxiety or depression, which tend to go hand-in-hand with eating disorders.
Group and nutritional counselling can provide the much-needed support and compassion individuals with bulimia and anorexia require. In some cases, individuals might benefit immensely from assisted support from a professional clinician who understands the importance of humanised approach during the recovery process.
How to Support a Loved One
Professional medical help is essential when it comes to recovery from these health conditions. However, it’s also vital to show our support, compassion, and care to our loved ones that are experiencing eating disorders.
Offering this support can be difficult, and they often do not know how to approach the situation.
There are a few things to take into consideration when we want to provide support to a loved one who’s going through this challenging journey.
1. Talk in Private
When the time to address the situation comes, it’s crucial to do it at the right time and place. Discussing this matter is highly sensitive, and individuals often feel immense shame and guilt. Therefore, approaching them in private is essential.
2. Listen Without Judging
It can be challenging to understand where the thoughts and feelings of people with anorexia or bulimia are coming from. However, just because we don’t understand them, it doesn’t mean we have to judge them. Empathy plays a vital role when showing our support to a loved one. Although it’s difficult to resonate with their thoughts and feelings, trying to put yourself in their shoes will create a safe environment where they might open up about their challenges.
3. Be Prepared For Denial, Defensiveness, or Resistance
Treatment rejection and even denial that individuals are experiencing eating disorders are quite common. However, in many cases is part of the recovery journey. We should be prepared that our loved ones will show resistance to even discussing their condition. However, patience, compassion, and persistence are crucial when it comes to supporting a loved one.
4. Encourage Them to Get Help
In many cases, individuals might not like the idea of starting their treatment journey. Encouraging individuals to speak to a medical professional can result in a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. It’s important to remember that recovering from an eating disorder can be a long and challenging journey. However, early diagnosis can result in a loved one regaining their mental and physical health sooner rather than later.
Anorexia and Bulimia Support with Unique Community Services
At Unique Community Services, we’re committed to providing support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our dedicated team creates bespoke plans that cater to each individual’s unique needs and requirements. Additionally, our professional clinicians provide the compassion, empathy, and support individuals require during their recovery journey.
Our clinicians are trained to assist individuals in all daily activities, whether with medical assistance, meal monitoring, or support with everyday tasks.
Creating a comfortable environment free of judgement, guilt, and shame is always our number one priority.
If you or your loved one require support during this journey, don’t hesitate to contact our offices in Bristol or Manchester for further information.
