Anorexia and Bulimia

After taking the exam, realized there was quite a bit more about the DSM on the exam than I had anticipated. Therefore, I bring you another 'difference between' entry. The difference between Anorexia and Bulimia is a really sticky one. Sometimes you hear people say, 'I was anorexic and bulimic'. Well no, they were anorexic: purging type. Some people with anorexia will occasionally binge and purge, and some will eat small meals and purge. Both anorexia and bulimia have symptoms of abusing laxatives or diet pills, purging, and excessive exercising.

People with anorexia will always see themselves as fat no matter how thin they get. In order to get the diagnosis of anorexic, the person must refuse to maintain a healthy weight. Women will often stop menstruating.

People with bulimia tend to stay an average weight. They binge frequently and feel like once they start eating they are not able to stop.

In an oversimplified nutshell, remember that people with anorexia are irrationally convinced they are fat and are obsessed with being thin. People with bulimia are obsessed with food and purge/abuse pills/excercise to compensate for their binging. Anorexics are always underweight and bulimics are usually at an average weight.