Both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are eating disorders. They have similar symptoms, which include a distorted perception of one’s body and a strong fear of gaining weight. However, the difference between the 2 is their behavior towards food.  

Anorexics significantly cut back on their calorie consumption and/or purge in an effort to lose weight. Bulimic individuals binge eats huge amounts of food in a short period of time before engaging in specific behaviors to avoid gaining weight. Included among these actions are: 

• Intentional (self-inflicted) vomiting. 
• Misuse of drugs like thyroid hormones or laxatives. 
• Excessive exercise or fasting. 

• Anorexic Symptoms 
  • A dramatic decrease in weight 
  • Wears layers of clothing to be warm or cover up weight loss. 
  • Obsession with dieting, food, calories, and fat grams. comments frequently about feeling “fat.” 
  • Refuse to maintain or cannot reach a healthy weight for their height, build, and age. 
  • Maintains an intense exercise routine despite difficult weather, exhaustion, illness, or injury. 

• Bulimic Symptoms  
  • Fear of gaining weight 
  • Being extremely critical of your appearance and weight. 
  • Mood swings, such as feeling incredibly tense or nervous.  
  • Thinking about food frequently 
  • Feeling guilty and ashamed, being discreet.
  • Avoiding social situations where food is involved because you feel like you have no control over your eating.  

Binge eating disorder is a severe eating condition that causes you to repeatedly eat unusually big amounts of food, and you feel that you can’t stop. For some individuals, excessive overeating that spirals out of control and starts to happen frequently crosses the line and develops into a binge-eating disorder. If you have a binge-eating disorder, you could feel ashamed of your overeating and make a commitment to stop. However, you feel such a strong urge that you are unable to control it and continue binge eating.

Symptoms

• Eating an excessive quantity of food in a short period of time, like over a two-hour period.
• You believe you’re eating habits are out of control.
• Eating despite being full or not being hungry.
• Eating quickly when having a binge
• eating until you’re sated but not satisfied.
• Often eating alone or secretly
• Feeling down about your eating, disgusted, humiliated, guilty, or upset
• Often dieting, possibly without seeing any weight loss

The emergence of eating disorders, particularly in children and young adults, can be attributed to unrealistic beauty standards and harmful attitudes toward food and eating. Fortunately, strong family and friend support can help a lot to stop these disorders before they even begin. Set a good example for your loved ones by eating healthily and motivating them to do the same. Working to develop strong self-esteem and a healthy body image is another way you may support them.

• Low heart rate or abnormal heart rhythm
• Feeling irritable, mood changes and difficulty focusing
• Suffering from gut issues causing pain, constipation or bloating
• Menstruation issues for women
• Low levels of testosterone for men
• Delayed puberty or slow growth
• Anemia
• Poor immune function

Although coping with eating disorders can be difficult, getting professional assistance can be crucial in the healing process. Treatment for eating disorders often combines therapy, nutrition counseling, and medical supervision. Self-help materials and support groups can also be helpful. Learning proper coping mechanisms is essential for controlling triggers and symptoms. In order to continue recovery, regular exercise, stress-reduction methods, and social support can be beneficial. General health and well-being can be enhanced by making use of the resources offered and participating in the healing process.

An essential part of addressing eating disorders is therapy. It provides people with these medical conditions a secure and encouraging environment to investigate the underlying psychological and emotional reasons that might be causing their sickness. In therapy, patients can address misguided thoughts and beliefs about food and their bodies, learn new coping mechanisms, and progress toward healing their relationship with food and body image. Any associated mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, can be addressed in therapy.